North Village 3

Hamilton Parish 1

North Village picked up their first win in the Premier Division after two late goals against a battling Hamilton Parish team at Bernard Park yesterday.

Richard Todd, the Village coach, looked relieved to get his first victory, although there were a few nervous moments right on full time which could have earned Parish a point.

Yannick Dill, the Parish defender, was involved in both, first having a volley tipped over the crossbar by Jason Williams, the Village goalkeeper, and then from the corner his header hit the crossbar.

Village then went upfield to settle the outcome when Keishen Bean caught Nigel Burgess, the Parish goalkeeper, exposed, before converting from an angle inside the box.

Nacori Smith, a second-half substitute for Jahron Dickinson, put Village in front in the 76th minute when he scored after only being on the field for four minutes.

Williams, called back into action because of a goalkeeper crisis at Village which forced Pierre Smith in goal last weekend against Devonshire Colts, was the home side’s hero, blocking a shot on goal from Donovan Thompson with his legs in the 83rd minute as Parish battled for a late equaliser. Thompson then put a free header straight at Williams with only the goalkeeper to beat.

“Well done by the young Nacori Smith who was able to come in and grab that winner,” Todd said.

“He has been doing outstanding for us in the PDL [Player Development League], looking bright and sharp, so he gave us the injection that we were looking for today. It’s coming in spurts, now we just have to be a little more consistent and have belief in ourselves that we can play.”

Village, who scored after three minutes against Colts last weekend, found themselves trailing to Parish after just 2½ minutes when Thompson kept his composure to score from close range after the Village defence had been penetrated.

After settling down Village looked deserving of an equaliser after playing some fluent football with the midfield trio of Philip Parsons, Shayne Hollis and Bean created plenty of chances for the front trio of Keston Lewis, Jahron Dickinson and Pierre Smith. A curling effort from Hollis from 18 yards was smartly tipped around the post by goalkeeper Nigel Burgess.

Then Burgess made a good save with his legs to deny Lewis after Village continued to probe for an equaliser.

An error by left back Jarye Bean when he miskicked an attempted clearance upfield almost cost Parish as Smith pounced to hit a first time shot just wide from 30 yards.

Two minutes later the goal did come, Burgess blocking a low shot after a free kick on the half-hour mark and Dickinson planting the rebound into the far corner.

Smith then put a header wide from a Terryn Fray cross at the far post as Village finished the first-half strongly.

Parish, however, were back on the attack from the start of the second half and should have reclaimed the lead when Thompson had a good chance from five yards but lifted his effort over the over.

After that Patrick Richardson went close with a volley and substitute Michael Albuoy’s header brought a fine save from Williams who was outstanding.

“This was [Williams’s] first game, he played two games and last weekend was unavailable due to work commitments,” Todd said. “We actually signed four goalkeepers in the transfer window, three have ended up overseas while the other [Andrew Jjombwe] does shift work.

“However, Jason has been doing well for us and I’m pleased about that. He would be my MVP selection for today. It took us a minute to settle down. Parish started a little bit brighter. were a little more intense and caught us napping, but once they ran out of steam we were able to control the game.

“For us, we have to be up to playing from the start because those teams towards the top are going to be more consistent all the way through the match. We could have had a couple more goals, I think it is a confidence issue with some of them. But the more we can start putting positive results together it will have a positive impact for us.”