St. George's 1 PHC 0

St. George's pulled PHC into the thick of the relegation battle following their first home win of the season at Wellington Oval yesterday.

The three points came courtesy of a goal off Dennis Maynard's stomach early in the second half. Except for salvaging some pride after an earlier loss to the Zebras, the doomed east enders may now have a say in who takes the drop with them.

However, PHC will pull themselves to safety if they win their game in hand over Dandy Town tomorrow night, but there will have to be a considerable improvement on yesterday's performance which was watched by Town's coach Andrew Bascome.

Town moved ahead of PHC on Friday night with their victory over Devonshire Cougars.

PHC were without the likes of Chris Furbert, Otis Steede, Stephen Astwood and Raynel Lightbourne and it showed as they seldom looked like the team that led the tables at the halfway point of the season. Neither goalkeeper - Troy Hall of St. George's nor Jay Smith of the Zebras - had much to do in a first half of few chances.

It wasn't until Mike Williams replaced Torie Russell in the 29th minute that PHC finally tested the home ‘keeper. With his first touches just seconds after being on the field, Williams brought off a one-handed save from Hall at the near post after good work on the right side of the box.

Williams' speed down the flank threatened to cause some problems for the home team soon after his introduction but the visitors did not make better use of the wind advantage in the first half.

The goal that would decide the points came just five minutes after the restart when St. George's won their second corner in a couple of minutes on the right side. The inswinging cross by Kyle Williams was dummied by Wayne Henry at the near post and Maynard, at the far post, steered the ball over the line with his stomach.

PHC made a double substitute immediately, bringing on Jonathan Ball and Kenny Mills for Jahvon Mallory and Duval Wilson. Anxiety began to show the longer they were prevented from equalising as Neil Paynter held his defence together.

‘Keeper Hall made an important near-post save to cut out a dangerous cross from Jahnai Raynor as PHC kept on the pressure. It was virtually all PHC in the last 20 minutes but they missed the finishing of Astwood and Lightbourne.

When defender Shea-Tai Smith shot over the top from a corner in injury time, PHC had blown their last chance.

St. George's: T.Hall; D.Signor, N.Paynter, U.Fox, D.Bailey, W.Henry, E.Signor, K.Williams, T.Smith (D.Wright 78 mins), D.Maynard, K.Butterfield (G.Foggo 79 mins).

PHC: J.Smith; S.Lewis, J.Sealey, C.Dowling, S.Smith, S.Russell, T.Russell (M.Williams 29 mins), J.Raynor, J.Mallory (J.Ball 52 mins), D.Russell, D.Wilson (K.Mills 52 mins).

Bookings: W.Henry, K.Williams (St. George's); S.Smith (PHC).

Men of the match: K.Williams (St. George's), J.Raynor (PHC).

Referee: Lyndon Raynor.