Robin Hood 0 PHC Zebras 2

PHC Zebras ended a long wait for a trophy yesterday when they netted two late goals at Wellington Oval to deny Robin Hood victory in their first appearance in the Dudley Eve Trophy final.

PHC, who last won the competition in 2007 when it was named the Martonmere Cup, capitalised on the sending off of Hood striker Antwan Russell in the 44th minute for an off-the-ball strike on defender Kenji Griffith.

Anthony Bailey, the referee, consulted linesman Anthony Francis before brandishing the red card, leaving Russell to make the long walk back to the changing room.

With the wind in their backs in the second half, PHC eventually made the one-man advantage count on the large field, with CedarBridge Academy student Mazhye Burchall scoring a memorable first goal at the senior level just four minutes after coming on as a substitute. Shakir Smith settled the issue two minutes from full time with another good finish as the rain poured down.

Hood made good use of the wind in their backs in the first half, quickly settling and posing early threats as Russell drove over the top from a free kick and Lejuan Simmons put an effort wide. Troy Hall, in the PHC goal, made an important block to a Simmons shot after Griffith lost possession.

Gradually PHC started to come into the game midway through the half as Shakir had a shot deflected for a corner, then put a header straight at goalkeeper Jason Simons from a good cross by Diondre Dowling.

Despite the loss of Russell just before half-time, Hood reorganised at the break and went close soon after the restart when midfielder Daniel Andrade hooked a shot just wide.

PHC, who last won a piece of silverware in the 2008-09 season when they lifted the Friendship Trophy, soon began to launch long balls forward and use their pace to test the Hood defence.

Zebras were starting to dominate midway through the second half as Hood brought on Shannon Burchall for Tre Dill. It was another Burchall, Mazhye, however who changed the match in the 78th minute when he raced through down the left, cut in on his favoured right foot and smashed a low shot into the far corner.

Smith, who scored the opening goal in the 2-0 win over champions Dandy Town Hornets in the semi-final, put the match out of Hood’s reach ten minutes later when he collected a return pass from Anthony Hunter and smashed his shot past Simons at the near post.

PHC had made a double substitution just a minute earlier when Casey Castle and Rakeem DeShields replaced Cecoy Robinson and Diondre Dowling.

n In the Masters Knockout Cup, defending champions St George’s Stallions beat Southampton Rangers 3-1 on penalty kicks in a preliminary round match earlier at Wellington Oval. The game finished 1-1 after regulation time.

Neil Paynter, Karl Roberts and Lionel Cann all scored for the home team from the penalty spot while Sheridan Ming netted for Rangers.

Ming put Rangers in front in the 41st minute before St George’s equalised through Roberts in the 80th minute, soon after Rangers were reduced to nine men with the sending off of cousins Janeiro Tucker and Kwame Tucker.