Steede's late strike saves PHC
North Village 1 PHC 1
PHC carried their fans' nerves to the wire, squandering chance after chance before finally producing an equaliser at the death to draw 1-1 with North Village in last night's Martonmere Cup action at Devonshire Rec.
A 90th-minute cross from the right side by Raynel Lightbourne - who looked certain to be verbally lynched as one of his team's villains for a plethora of missed opportunities throughout the night - somehow found the knee of a desperate Otis Steede, lunging in at the far post, to give Zebras a share in the night's glory.
The final whistle blew immediately after and, while it sparked celebrations in the PHC camp, all who watched the match would attest there was little for either side to toast in a scrappy affair that did not deserve the massive crowd it drew.
In fact, the game can only be truly remembered for two things: the outstanding brilliance of Village's goalkeeper Dwayne (Streaker) Adams whose acrobatics thwarted several of the efforts which PHC managed to get on target and the misfortune of Village player, Kevin Jennings, who clattered into the opposition's goalpost in the first half and had to be taken to hospital by ambulance.
The latter complained of not being able to breathe and his accident caused a lengthy first-half delay.
Village's goal in the 35th minute of the first session was against the early run of play as it was the Zebras who came out gunning. They drilled a number of shots at Adams and he was equal to the test, even drawing applause from PHC supporters.
All Adams' hard work was repaid by his Village team-mate Jamaal Boyles at the other end when Zebras skipper Stanton Lewis - in a major blunder - sent the ball back across his own goal. This resulted in a header opportunity which Boyles made no mistake in putting away.
There was little to shout about thereafter, unless one counts the dozen or so goalscoring chances which PHC missed, and it looked as though Village, while not impressive, would hold on for the win.
However, it was finally the one player on PHC's side - Steede - who kept persevering that was able to beat the previously impregnable Adams.
PHC: S.Dupres, S.Lewis, J.Sealy, C.Furbert, D.Wilson, O.Steede, O.Shakir, T.Russell (M.Williams, 65 mins), B.Bean (J. Raynor 54 mins), D.Russell (K.Lambe, 60 mins), R.Lightbourne.
North Village: D.Adams, J.Thomas, R.Spence, Kentoine Jennings, M.Hansey, Kevin Jennings (M.Dill, first half), D.Coddington (K.Dill, second half), J.Boyles, S.Deshields, D.Warren, S.Goater (J.Davis, 80 mins).
Men of the Match: O.Steede (PHC), D.Adams (North Village).
Referee: R.Knight