North Village 3 Hamilton Parish 1

North Village capitalised on Dandy Town’s loss and PHC’s draw to go five points clear at the top of the Premier Division after prevailing against ten-men Hamilton Parish at Bernard Park on Sunday.

Town lost 2-1 to Young Men’s Social Club on Saturday night, while Zebras were held to 2-2 draw against Devonshire Cougars the following day to lose precious ground in the title race.

Village now top the standings with 28 points, while Town are second on goal difference ahead of third place PHC, with both teams level on 23 points.

Jai Bean put Village ahead in the thirteenth minute but Parish hit back through a Jayce Basden own goal to leave the teams deadlocked at half time. Parish were reduced to ten men when defender Quinn Outerbridge was booked twice for dissent by referee Anthony Francis after a crunching foul on Village midfielder Tre Ming.

Village capitalised on their numerical advantage as Jonté Smith and substitute Jalen Harvey struck in the second half to solidify their team’s lead at the top of the Premier Division.

Goalkeepr Detre Bell, the Village captain, was delighted his side put more distance between themselves and the chasing pack.

“This was a massive victory for us and I think we just need to take one game at a time,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“We are sitting at the top of the table but that doesn’t mean anything because in the past we have slipped. But if we keep on doing what we are supposed to do and taking care of what needs to be done on the pitch, things will bode well for us.”

Despite playing a man short, Parish put up a good fight and with better execution in the attacking third might have come away from the match with something.

“I think they came, showed heart and played well,” Bell said.

“It’s unfortunate for them that they got the red card because they were in the game.

“But as we know football does go that way sometimes and all it takes is one mishap and the game can change in a heartbeat.

“I think they played well and that’s just Parish. Where they are sitting in the table [second from bottom] doesn’t really reflect them because I always see them as a team that could hurt anybody.”

Village started on the front foot with Bean and Smith just failing to get a touch to midfielder Liam Evans’s inviting cross in front of goal.

After soaking up early pressure, Parish began creating chances at the other end of the pitch with striker Macquille Walker squandering a good opportunity after being picked out by defender Jordan Outerbridge’s cross into the box.

Bean made the breakthrough for Village when he dispossessed Parish captain Aaron Nelson deep in his own half and chipped goalkeeper Nigel Burgess from just outside the area.

Parish pressed on despite the setback and levelled when forward Leroy Lewis Jr’s cross went in off Village defender Basden and they went close to taking the lead when defender Kion Knight’s cross-shot flashed just wide of the far post.

Village also threatened again when Burgess palmed away Bean’s free-kick and Evans blasted the rebound over the bar.

Parish then suffered another setback when Outerbridge received his marching orders with the high-tempo game evenly poised.

Village also started the second half brightly with Smith having a low shot saved by Burgess, but his persistence eventually paid off in the 53rd minute when Harvey dispossessed Parish midfielder Zuhri Burgess and delivered a cross which Smith buried into the far bottom corner of the net.

Lewis found himself in space down the left side on a Parish counter attack but was unable to provide service to his team-mates waiting in the box.

Village went close again when Bean brought off a brilliant fingertip save from Burgess before Harvey dashed any hopes of another Parish comeback when he drilled London Steede’s cross in at the back post.

The home side created more opportunities in the final minutes but were unable to capitalise with Bean and Ming bringing off fine saves from the evergreen Burgess.

“I don’t think we played too sharp today, but we got the job done and that’s the main thing, getting the job done,” said Cal Dill Jr, the Village coach.

Scorers:

North Village: J Bean, 13, J Smith, 53, J Harvey (sub), 83

Hamilton Parish: J Basden og 32

North Village (4-4-2): D Bell 7 – K Harrison 7, T Fray 7, J Basden 7, K Knights 5 (sub: J Harvey, 46min 8) – S Spence 7, L Evans 7, T Ming 7, L Steede 7 – J Bean 8, J Smith 7 (sub: I Simmons, 84). Substitutes not used: Jabari Hayward, Jabri Hayward, Z Jennings-Barnett.

Hamilton Parish (4-4-2): N Burgess 8 – J Outerbridge 8, Y Ibaraguen-Ramirez 8, Q Outerbridge 7, K Knights 7 – A Nelson 8, G Burgess 7, Z Burgess 7, J Bell 7 – L Lewis Jr 8, M Walker 7. Substitutes not used: K Trott. Booked: Q Outerbridge, J Outerbridge. Sent off: Q Outerbridge

Referee: A Francis.