Devonshire Colts 2

PHC 1

Devonshire Colts pulled off an impressive second half comeback to take the spoils at Police Field yesterday.

Cecoy Robinson, the PHC captain, gave the visiting side a 1-0 lead at half-time, before Colts rallied and hit back through Ryan Purnell and Kyle Jones.

Colts’s third victory of the season came at a cost, however, as Joseph Butterfield, the centre back, and Lozendro Symonds, the striker and captain, both pulled their hamstrings and are now doubtful for next weekend’s game against Boulevard.

PHC were convinced they had snatched a draw at the death, believing the ball had gone in after a goalmouth scramble. However, Lyndon Raynor, the referee’s assistant, who was in a perfect position to make the call, judged otherwise.

Raynor’s decision would not have mattered had PHC put away a fraction of the chances they squandered with Shakir Smith, the striker, the chief culprit.

Smith blew a golden opportunity to double his side’s lead early in the second half when he smashed the ball against the crossbar with an open goal in front of him.

Smith’s glaring miss, and PHC’s failed appeals for a late equaliser, perhaps best summed up Mark Wade’s side’s frustration at not winning a game that, at one stage, seemed theirs for the taking.

PHC took the match to the home side from the opening kick, and wreaked havoc on Colts’s back four with their ball movement and pace. Gregory Rose, the Colts goalkeeper, had to be at his best to repel Smith’s well-directed free kick from 20 yards out.

After threatening on a handful of occasions, PHC finally broke the deadlock when Robinson fired home Smith’s pullback from close range.

The goal proved to be a wake up call for Colts, who sprang to life and almost equalised immediately at the other end during a goalmouth scramble which PHC survived.

PHC hearts were also in their mouths when Eli Smith, and Jones, his fellow midfielder, shot over, and just wide, during counter-attacks as the game opened up.

Jones also had an angled drive fizz just over the bar after Purnell rode a few tackles and dished the ball to his team-mate, while Symonds fired into the side netting after carving out space in tight quarters.

By now Colts had all the momentum, but they were nearly caught off guard when Robinson headed Julian Carpenter’s cross wide, and Smith failed to connect with a cross inside of the penalty box.

Already trailing, Colts suffered a further setback when it was determined at half-time that Symonds and Butterfield could not continue, forcing Gerald Bean, the Colts coach, to turn to an already depleted bench for reinforcements.

With the game hanging in the balance, Smith looked a gift horse in the mouth when scoring seemed the only option.

The spurned opportunity was just the break that Colts needed and they took full advantage.

Purnell brought the teams level from the penalty spot after Na-eem Griffith fouled Zuri Darrell, the Colts striker, in the box.

Colts scored their equaliser playing a man short as McQuinn Burch, the centre back, was receiving treatment on the sidelines.

Burch would have a major say in Colts’s winner as it was from his corner that Jones rose at the back post to powerfully head past Troy Hall, the PHC goalkeeper.

PHC threatened late with substitutes Casey Castle and Diondre Dowling firing over, but Colts did just enough to protect their slim lead.