Paget 1 Dandy Town 0

Dandy Town suffered a huge dent to their Premier Division title chances after losing to Paget Lions at Southampton Oval on Saturday.

A 28th minute goal by Rakeem Deshields made the difference as Town fell five points behind league leaders North Village with just three games to play, and the match winner was pleased with his side’s defensive display.

“We had a game plan to stay solid,” Deshields said. “I am happy how we defended as a team.”

This result could herald the beginning of a fine end to the season for Paget, who play in the FA Cup semi-finals this month and Lions assistant coach Terry Foote feels this result will be a big boost to his side’s confidence.

“This is big for the team,” Foote said. “Mathematically, we are still in the title race, but the FA Cup is the goal.”

Town started brightly with attacking intent and could have opened the scoring inside ten minutes when a corner by Tomiko Goater was poorly cleared by the Paget defence, but Angelo Simmons dragged his strike wide of the far post.

Just five minutes later Town failed to capitalise on a defensive mistake. Paget’s Julian Carpenter tried to pass inside to Tristen Davis, but Goater intercepted ball before his shot also went wide of the far post.

Paget slowly increased in confidence as the first half wore on and fashioned their first meaningful opportunity in the 20th minute. Delray Rawlins flicked a lofted pass by Davis on to strike partner Shakir Smith, who flicked it back for Rawlins to chest down and fire a volley just over the crossbar as Town keeper Peter Silvester watched on.

Deshields got what proved to be the winner midway through the first half after Tristen Davis was fouled by Town midfielder Nizigh Spence near the centre circle. The defender stepped up to perfectly to flight the resulting free kick over the deep Town wall and beyond the despairing stretch of Silvester.

Town pushed hard for an equaliser before half time but their lack of tempo in possession and conviction in the final third allowed Paget to comfortably keep their shape.

Knowing they had a slender lead at the break, Paget took a slower approach to the second half, but this encouraged Town to intensify their pressure and gain territory although neither side really held control of possession.

Just as Town started to improve their game and increase the pressure on the Paget defence, Lions introduced pacey and physical forward Kushae Hypolite to add some additional bite as starter Aquino Grant lost his influence on the game.

Town started to keep the ball well in tight areas during the middle period of the second half and Angelo Simmons smashed a speculative effort from about 25 yards well over the bar.

Title-hunting Town turned to Ajai Daniels, Omar Wilson and Tavez Smith to alter the game with 20 minutes remaining, but it was Paget who could have doubled their lead when the game opened up. Daniel Cook played a good ball into Rawlins but the Bermuda cricketer could not direct his header on target.

Town should have equalised in the final ten minutes when Goater fed a good pass into space for Eusebio Blankendal, but the overlapping defender forced a reflex save from keeper Shaquille Bean with his curling effort.

Both sides continued to attack in the most entertaining period of the game with Hypolite dragging a shot wide from about ten yards after a lovely pass by Smith.

Town fashioned the last major chance of the match when Ereico Outerbridge tried to aim a cross towards his striker David Jones Jr but the ball was creeping inside the bar until Bean tipped it over.

SCORERS:

Paget Lions: Deshields 28

TEAMS

Paget (4-2-3-1): S Bean 7 – K Simons 6 (sub: K Durrant, 76min), R Deshields 8, J Carpenter 7, N Carpenter 7 – D Cook 6, T Davis 6 (sub: P Castle, 76) – A Grant 6 (sub: K Hypolite, 61 5), D Hart 6, S Smith 6 – D Rawlins 5 (sub: O Tucker, 90); Substitutes not used: D Stovell, J Morrissey, A Russell. Booked: Deshields, N Carpenter, Grant, Hypolite.

Dandy Town (4-4-2): P Silvester 7 – E Blankendal 6, M Isaac 6 (sub: A Daniels, 70), E Moore 5, T Webb 5 – E Outerbridge 5, T Goater 6, N Spence 6, J Samuels 5 (sub: T Smith, 70) – A Simmons 5 (sub: O Wilson, 70), D Jones Jr 5. Substitutes not used: A Harvey, T Place, A Martin. Booked: Moore, Blankendal.

Referee: D Parchment (Jamaica)