Flanagan’s Onions 0 North Village 2

Goals from Lashon Dill and Demetre Daniels were enough to give North Village victory at Goose Gosling Field last night against a spirited Flanagan’s Onions side, who were a completely different proposition to the team that lost 9-0 against PHC Zebras last week.

Onions were arguably the better side in the first half, with former Village striker Keston Lewis causing his old team all kinds of problems. However, Dill raced on to a long ball and beat Chejon Berkeley, the Onions goalkeeper, with a tidy finish into the bottom corner of the net early in the second half to give the Rams the lead.

Village were not entirely safe until the second minute of stoppage time when Daniels headed in substitute Thomas Watson’s deep cross at the far post.

DeVarr Boyles, the Village coach, was full of praise for Onions.

“I liked what the opponent brought tonight,” he said. “It was good intensity from them. Their team had to respond [from last week’s defeat] and my team grew as the match wore on.

“It was difficult at times. Once we scored, we settled down. But in between that and the goal we were competitive, and that’s all I can ask.

“I thought the collective tactical effort wasn’t good [in their 2-1 win over Boulevard Blazers last week], but tonight, I can nitpick, but for the most part, it was good.”

Village should have taken the lead as early as the second minute when Onions right back Callon Burns played Dill onside and through on goal, only for the Village forward to clip the crossbar.

Onions almost hit back soon afterwards when Lewis showed nice feet to get a shot off from the edge of the box, which he dragged wide. Treshun Smith then stung the palms of Village goalkeeper and captain Tahj Bell, with Michael Lindsey-Bailey heading wide from the resulting corner.

Village were restricted to half-chances for the rest of the half, but Dill put them ahead with Dill pouncing.

Onions, though, were stung into action and Smith’s free kick was almost directed in off the back of Markez Laws, but went just wide.

Smith then had another great chance for the home side, but his header went inches wide from Lewis’s cross.

Lewis himself hit the bar with 13 minutes remaining from an Onions corner, but Village looked to have good claims for a penalty three minutes later when Martel Laws appeared to bundle over Daniels in the box, but the referee thought otherwise. However, the Onions player came off worst and had to be substituted.

Onions coach Mick Ward was encouraged by the performance of his team, but “devastated” by the result.

“We asked for a response and we got it,” he said. “We’re obviously devastated we didn’t even get a point tonight. I thought we had some good chances and we restricted them to very few. It’s one of those things.

“You’ve got to take your chances, and we’ll work on that, but I’m proud of them. The response was great, we’ve just got to kick on.”

SCORERS

North Village

Dill 52, Daniels 90+2

TEAMS

Flanagan’s Onions: C Berkeley - Martel Laws (sub: P Smith, 85min), Markez Laws, M Lindsey-Bailey (sub: N Anglin, 85), K Lewis (captain), C Burns (sub: M Aden, 73), T Smith, S Swan, J Higson, M Field, N Dunkle. Substitute not used: M Ward. Booked: Swan.

North Village: T Bell (captain) - J Thomas, J Briers, L Dill (sub: Z Hendrickson, 90), D Daniels, J Davis, S Hollis, M Thomas (sub: P Smith, 62), A Johnston, T Durham (sub: T Watson, 85), T Frey. Substitutes not used: K Knights, T Wilson, P Castle, C Caisey. Booked: Briers.

Referee: G Swainson.