PHC 2 North Village 1

PHC goalkeeper Quinaceo Hunt produced a man-of-the-match display to propel the holders through to a third successive Friendship Trophy final and a record 22nd overall at Wellington Oval on Boxing Day.

Hunt pulled off a string of spectacular saves to preserve his team’s one-goal advantage in the final stages of a thrilling contest that lived up to expectations.

“I knew there was a job to be done, and I was focused on that,” Hunt told The Royal Gazette.

“Semi-finals are never easy and the pressure can be overwhelming, but it’s important to stay composed. I relied on my training to keep my team in the winning bracket and grasp the victory.

“It was a great team effort. I am just happy everyone was focused and put in all efforts to secure the victory.”

Hailing the goalkeeper’s heroics was his father, Quincy Hunt, the PHC coach.

“Most games he doesn’t have to do that, but today he stepped up in the big moment, and that’s what a goalkeeper has to do,” said Hunt, himself a former PHC goalkeeper.

“Today, he made six or seven saves, so I am proud of my son who showed up today.”

Hunt’s brilliant display also drew praise from deputising Village coach Cal Dill.

“Their goalkeeper has to be the man of the match,” Dill said. “His heroics saved PHC today.”

PHC’s Joshua Joseph and Village’s Jai Bean traded goals before Enrique Russell popped up with the winner just before half-time.

Village squandered golden opportunities and were twice denied by the woodwork as PHC rode their luck.

“I thought we played well and were the better team on the day,” Dill added. “I can’t be mad at my team for the way we played.”

His PHC counterpart also tipped his hat to Village for their efforts.

“I give credit to Village because they pushed us to the end,” Quincy Hunt said.

“They had their chances and it could have gone the other way, but we were fortunate to come through.

“We are very pleased with the outcome, and it was a good, cracking game for the fans.”

Village flew out of the blocks from the opening whistle, with Hunt blocking Jonté Smith’s effort from point-blank range after being picked out by Bean’s pullback from the right side of the area.

Joseph turned the game on its head when he put Zebras ahead against the run of play.

The midfielder dispossessed Seke Spence on the edge of the box and angled a low shot past goalkeeper Detre Bell.

The Village goalkeeper was called into action again moments later to keep out Enoch Joseph’s cross, which took a deflection off team-mate Khimo Harrison.

Village suffered another setback when defender Rai Sampson went off with a knee injury, but they pressed on with Bean bringing off a fingertip save from Hunt while fellow midfielder Daion Swan-DeSilva’s effort struck a post after showing the PHC defence a clean pair of heels.

Village’s relentless pressure finally paid off when Bean bent his free kick around the wall and inside Hunt’s far post after being tripped just outside the box.

PHC regained the lead for good during a strong spell late in the half courtesy of Russell’s exquisite finish. The striker took possession of deputising captain Kadeem Astwood’s short pass just inside the area and whipped a left-footed shot past Bell, which ultimately proved to be the winner.

Hunt was then equal to the task late in the second half as Village went all out in search of an equaliser, first pushing Smith’s thumping effort against a post before palming away Bean’s firm drive from the rebound.

The PHC stopper also did well to palm away Bean’s potent shot from the edge of the box and rushed off his line to block Village substitute Amir Dill’s effort as he and his team-mates held on until the final whistle.

“I think we came in with a lot of heart and a mindset that got us over the line, and obviously Quinaceo made a lot of big saves for us today,” Astwood said.

Russell is delighted to reach another final.

“I am very pleased. This is our third Friendship Trophy final in a row, and we are happy to be here and looking to win,” he said.

PHC will meet the winners of tonight’s second semi-final between Dandy Town and Hamilton Parish at Somerset Cricket Club on New Year’s Day.

SCORERS

PHC: J Joseph 9, Russell 40

North Village: Bean 24

TEAMS

PHC (4-2-3-1): Q Hunt 9 – D Smith-Lightbourne 7, E King- Mills 8, D Lodge 8, D Smith- Davis 7- C McDowall 8, E Joseph 8 – S Nisbett 5 (sub: H Eve, 37min 7), K Astwood 8, J Joseph 8 – E Russell 8 (sub: D Wainwright, 75). Booked: McDowall, E Joseph. Substitutes not used: A Wade, T Showers, J Ebbin, H Bean-Fox, M Davis

North Village (4-2-3-1): D Bell 8 – K Harrison 7, J Basden 7, R Sampson (sub: L Steede, 15 7), K Knights 7 – T Ming 7, S Spence 6 (sub: J Chapman 75) – D Swan- DeSilva 8, Z Dill 7 (sub: A Dill, 75), J Bean 8 – J Smith 6. Booked: Ming. Substitutes not used: Z Jennings, I Simmons, A DeShields-Tankard, B Robinson.

Referee: M Wyer.