PHC kept alive their chances of retaining their First Division League crown despite a less than sterling performance against bottom club Hamilton Parish on Saturday night.

The Zebras came away with a 3-0 victory courtesy of goals by Frank Ming, Blake Simons and Sammy Swan, but were never able to dominate a Parish squad who have now lost five of their last six league games.

Much of the match was a battle of the midfields with Ming, Simons and Dana Rawlins showcasing their wares for the home side while Parish's Walton Burgess, Zane Stowe and Ashton Outerbridge did their utmost to counteract any moves made the opposing trio.

A listless first half saw neither team showing much firepower up front as emphasised by a mere three shots on goal.

The first of these came in the 16th minute off the boot of Ming and served to put PHC ahead when he connected with a volley from six yards on the end of a Swan cross, giving a stunned George Fox no chance.

It may have been expected that this tally would open the floodgates to the Parish goal, but instead it was they who began to apply pressure.

Livewire winger Irving Burgess found room to roam along the right flank in the 25th minute as he eluded the offside trap, cut in an unleashed a powerful shot that sailed just wide.

Four minutes later Antwon Darrell watched in agony as his attempt rebounded off the upright and was cleared by the PHC defence.

The half ended with PHC's Shawn Simons deflecting over the bar a shot by Ming, which he might have done better to leave alone.

A similar script followed in the second half as plays constantly bogged down in the each side's attacking third of the field.

Shawn Simons and Swan took turns wasting good opportunities to increase the lead in the 50th and 62nd minutes, both skying drives over the top.

It was then left to midfielder Blake Simons to demonstrate to his forwards the finishing touch required.

Simons took a feed from substitute Raynel Lightbourne inside the penalty area and drove a first-time right-foot shot that went in off the left upright.

As time dwindled, Swan stepped up to close out the scoring two minutes from the end as he fired home from close range following a goalmouth scramble.

The result boosted PHC to 16 points, still within striking distance of the leaders while Parish now have just five points from 13 matches and show no signs of snapping out of what has been a season-long slump.

PHC: C.Crockwell; N.Simons, M.Dill, D.Outerbridge, N.Simons; B.Simons, D.Rawlins, F.Ming (O.Steede, 88 mins); S.Simons (R.Lightbourne, 71 mins), S.Swan, K.Mills.

Hamilton Parish: G.Fox; P.Webb, J.Nicol, C.Caisey, K.Simons; A.Outerbridge (S.Gibbons, 68 mins), W.Burgess, Z.Stowe; A.Darrell, I.Burgess, Q.Outerbridge.

Referre: Rex Osborne.

Men of the match: Frank Ming (PHC); Walton Burgess (Hamilton Parish).