PHC Zebras 3

Robinson 79, 90, Smith 80

Hamilton Parish 1

Mallory 57

PHC leapt two places in the table with their win over Hamilton Parish at Southampton Oval yesterday.

A second-half brace from substitute Cecoy Robinson and a solo strike from Shakir Smith helped the home side overcome a Ijahmon Mallory header to open the scoring.

The three points helped the Warwick club to jump over St David’s and Wolves, and out of the relegation zone heading into the Christmas break.

“This is a good win for us given the situation we are in,” Robert Bean, the PHC assistant coach, said. “We played well when it mattered, so in the long run this one may help us in the bigger picture. These matches are vital. All teams want to win their homes games and look elsewhere to get the rest.

“The important thing is that you want to take points from those around you. If you can, that helps your cause.”

After a dull first half in which a Lorenzo Symonds shot for long range was the highlight of the exchanges, a burst of energy from Parish managed to inspire both teams to go for it,

Mallory opened the scoring in the 57th minute. Left unmarked from a corner, he made no mistake with his header from six yards.

PHC had a chance immediately to get back into the match, but Malachi Jones headed right at Nigel Burgess, the Parish goalkeeper, from close range.

Pacy winger Ian Coke almost doubled the visiting side’s lead midway through the second half.

After being played through the Zebras back line by Donovan Thompson, Coke could only watch in agony as his shot beat Quincy Hunt in goal for PHC, but hit the crossbar.

Referee Ronue Cann’s decision to award a free kick for a foul on Johnny Ball instead of blowing for a corner proved the decisive moment, as Smith’s cross was met at the back post by Robinson in the 79th.

The home side had the lead one minute later when a scramble in the Parish area ended with Robinson being hauled down by Calvin Hansey, the Parish defender.

Amid the protests from the Parish players, Burgess would receive a caution from Cann before the penalty kick was taken.

Smith duly stepped up and made no mistake from the spot, beating Burgess to his left as he went the wrong way.

The final blow was dealt by the dangerous pair of Smith and Robinson in the 90th minute.

Heading to the corner flag to run out the time, Smith surprised Parish with a surge into the box. Once reaching the byline, he squared the ball back to an open Robinson at the back post, who had the simple task to slotting home.

Both sides continued to pour forward, but no further goals would come, leaving PHC victorious for the third time this season. “It is a disappointing loss today for us, that’s all I really can say,” Kieshon Smith, the Parish coach, said.

PHC (4-4-2): Q Hunt — J Raynor, M Lambe, R Richardson, J Ball — K Lambe, M Waldron, D Usher (sub: Cecoy Robinson, 54min), J Dupray (sub: Cofield Robinson, 46) — S Smith, M Jones (sub: M Piper, 72). Substitutes not used: J Rogers, F Joseph, D Nelson, K Abraham. Booked: Richardson.

Hamilton Parish (4-3-3): N Burgess — C Hansey, I Mallory, R Richardson, Q Glasford (sub: P Richardson, 65) — L Symonds (sub: C Hill, 81), C Durham, K Darrell — S Hollis, I Coke, D Thompson (sub: M Albuoy, 72). Substitutes not used: D Rogers, T Douglas, E Parsons, K Richardson, M Albuoy. Booked: Coke, Burgess, Mallory.

Referee: R Cann.