PHC 5 Devonshire Colts 0

Over the years Devonshire Colts have widely been referred to as local football?s ?Halloween boys?. Yesterday at Southampton Oval it was the men in orange who received the fright of their lives.

A clinical hat-trick from the sizzling boot of in form striker Raynel (Manga) Lightbourne and a late second half Sammy Swan brace earned Zebras their first league win of the season.

The manner in which PHC, who also had a goal disallowed, cashed in on Colts? shortcomings ? they had Ryan Purnell sent off midway through the second half ? was nothing shy of emphatic.

Purnell?s ejection for retaliating against the towering Sheq-Tai Smith triggered a four-goal Zebras blitz which completely killed off Colts? hopes of stealing at least a point from their hosts who dictated the tempo throughout this physically bruising contest.

Again the unstoppable Lightbourne was the main catalyst, converting in the 28th, 66th and 76th minutes to bag his first treble in several seasons.

?It?s been a long time since I?ve enjoyed a hat-trick,? the wiry striker told The Royal Gazette afterwards. ?I?m just happy to help my team get a first victory. I?ve been putting in extra training and I guess it?s starting to pay off.?

As for the three or so chances he squandered, Lightbourne smiled: ?You can?t score them all and at least they were on target.?

In between Lightbourne?s seventh and eighth goals of the season, the age-defying Swan jumped the off the bench and helped himself to two well-taken strikes to extend the match well beyond the reach of Colts.

For the visitors, failure to capitalise on limited chances came back to haunt them big time. Stalwarts Shannon Burgess and Sekai Waldron and youngster Willis Ming were all guilty of attempting to walk the ball across the goal-line instead of pulling the trigger.

But where Colts stumbled, Zebras prevailed beginning when Lightbourne opened his account after 27 minutes. During one of many Zebras raids down the flanks, PHC captain Blenn Bean supplied a pinpoint cross into the box which was met by the thunderous left-footed boot of Lightbourne.

Zebras midfielder Phillip Anderson, fortunate not to have been booked for a series of crunching tackles, was also guilty of hurrying shots either wide or over the bar when well placed.

After enjoying the lion?s share of possession, a 1-0 advantage was all Zebras had to show for their efforts.

Colts, though, appeared to have stepped up their game early in the second half when Purnell prompted Zebras? ?keeper Ramon Glasford to make a rare save at the near post.

But all the visitors work came undone at the seams when a sudden rush of blood to Purnell?s head saw his day cut short.

Sensing their opponents were wounded, PHC moved in for the kill and took full advantage, Lightbourne grabbing his second with a straight forward header from four yards out.

Then it was Swan?s time to shine, opening his account for the season with his third touch of the ball less than a minute after replacing Anderson. With the Colts defence retreating, and fans urging on the 44-year-old striker, Swan drilled the ball home from the penalty spot after twice hesitating to pick his spot.

Lightbourne then completed a superb treble by heading home a Tokia Russell cross before Swan?s give-and-go with fellow sub Duval Wilson culminated with the veteran banging in his team?s fifth and final goal to cap off Zebras? comprehensive win.

?I told you it was just a matter of time before I hit the target. And this was one for the older clan,? stated Swan inside a noisy Zebras dressing room afterwards.

PHC: R.Glasford, J.Sealy, S.Smith, S.Lewis, C.Dowling, T.Russell, O.Shakir (S.Russell, 70 mins), C.Furbert, B.Bean (capt), R.Lightbourne (D.Wilson, 80 mins), P.Anderson (S.Swan, 66 mins).

Devonshire Colts: K.Bean, R.Purnell, M.Cabral (R.Evans, 68 mins), M.Hollis (capt), J.Butterfield, S.Burgess, W.Ming, D.Williams, Q.Jones (J.Belboda, 48 mins), S.Waldron (T.Foote, 72 mins), A.Lowe.

Yellow cards: J.Sealy, C.Furbert (PHC); M.Cabral, M.Hollis (Colts)

Red card: R.Purnell (Colts)

Men of the match: R.Lightbourne (PHC); M.Hollis (Colts).

Referee: Richard Knight.