Hamilton Parish 2 St George’s Colts 5

Hamilton Parish will be playing in the First Division next season after being relegated by landlords St George’s in a seven-goal thriller at Wellington Oval on Sunday.

Sergio Goater’s team were in a must-win situation heading into this Premier Division match and managed to hold their own in the first half until their opponents scored four second-half goals to seal their fate.

“Definitely a disappointing result and I think this game sums up half the games we’ve had this season,” Nigel Burgess, the Parish goalkeeper and deputising captain, told The Royal Gazette.

“We got on top, had opportunities but just were not able to pull out the three points.”

Parish’s relegation comes just four months after they lifted the Dudley Eve Trophy, their first major title in top-flight football.

“That was a series of games where everything went for us but unfortunately we haven’t been able to replicate those efforts in our league form,” Burgess said.

The experienced goalkeeper now hopes Parish can make a swift return to the top division.

“That’s always the goal when you are in the First Division, to get right back into the Premier Division,” Burgess said.

“We have a quality team and the results didn’t speak to the calibre of the players that we had. So again it is quite disappointing and we will look for a speedy entrance back into the Premier Division.”

St George’s prevailed after two goals each from Blaiz Hall and Senoj Mitchell, while stand-in captain Jahron Dickinson also got on the scoresheet. Justin Bell and Jordan Outerbridge replied for a Parish side that paid the price for squandering several chances.

Hot Peppers started brightly and caused anxiety in the St George’s defence but were forced to chase the game when Mitchell broke the deadlock with a controversial goal.

St George’s were awarded the throw-in despite one of their players appearing to kick the ball into touch. That led to Mitchell slotting past Burgess after being released by Hall’s defence-splitting pass.

Parish coach Sergio Goater vented his frustration towards assistant referee Tashun Simons and received a booking from referee Anthony Francis.

Despite the early setback, Parish refused to roll over and were rewarded for their persistence when midfielder Bell used his strength to hold off his pursuers and beat St George’s goalkeeper Jahquil Hill at the near post.

Hill then dived full length to palm away Mitchell’s effort from the top of the box. Parish striker Macquille Walker kept the move alive, chasing down the loose ball and passing to team-mate Aaron Burgess, who blazed his shot just over the bar.

Hill was also forced to vacate his line to dispossess Walker before he was able to get off a shot.

The teams went in at half-time level after St George’s wasted a golden opportunity to double their advantage. Striker Hall blasted high and wide with only Burgess to beat after midfielder Quadir Maynard’s pass sent him clear on goal.

Hall redeemed himself shortly after the restart with a superbly taken goal. The striker gained possession 25 yards out and composed himself before confidently curling the ball into the far top corner of the net.

Dickinson also brought the home crowd to their feet with a sublime finish of his own to make it 3-1. The 35-year-old controlled the ball on his chest and volleyed it past Burgess on the turn from eight yards.

Parish suffered another setback when holding midfielder Quinn Outerbridge was replaced after dislocating his left shoulder, but Goater’s team again showed tremendous heart to pull a goal back when substitute Kion Knights’s shot struck the bar and Outerbridge followed up to knock the loose ball past Hill.

However, their spirited fightback was in vain as Hall restored the two-goal cushion for St George’s after converting on a breakaway and then turned provider as he released Mitchell, who rounded Burgess and slotted into the empty net.

Dickinson hailed his side’s five-star performance, which pleased coach player-coach Drewonde Bascome

“In the beginning it took a little while for us to keep the ball and I think we were racing a bit,” Dickinson said. “But second half we settled, knocked the ball around and came out with the result.”

As for his brilliant finish, the experienced player added: “I have been working hard all season and finally it’s paying off. We have a good group of guys and if we stick together we can do some things next season.”

SCORERS

Hamilton Parish: Bell 19, J Outerbridge 69

St George’s Colts: Mitchell 5, 79, Hall 51, 72, Dickinson 54

TEAMS

Hamilton Parish (4-2-3-1): N Burgess 6 – J Outerbridge 5, M Hill 5, Y Ibaraguen Rameriz 5, A Nelson 5 – Q Outerbridge 6 (sub: K Knights, 62min 5) Z Burgess 5 – A Burgess 5 (sub: L Lewis, 46 5; sub: K Trott, 82), J Bell 7, G Burgess 5 – M Walker 5. Substitutes not used: C Binnie. Booked: Hill, S Goater (coach)

St George's Colts (4-1-4-1): J Hill 7 – A Cannonier 6 (sub: T Tucker, 73 5), J Schroder 7 (sub: A Joaquin, 72 5), O Bascome 6, G Wade 6 – K Minors 6 – I Gibbons 6, Q Maynard 7, J Dickinson 8, S Mitchell 8 (sub: Z Burgess, 88) – B Hall 8 (sub: M Tucker, 88). Substitutes not used: D Bascome.

Referee: A Francis.