North Village 3 PHC Zebras 1

North Village claimed top spot with a comfortable win over PHC Zebras at Bernard’s Park yesterday.

A brace from Rai Simons and a brilliant chip from substitute Jaizel Smith-DeShields secured all three points for Village.

Cecoy Robinson, the PHC captain, scored for the visiting side. “I’m happy we got the result,” said Simons. “It’s nice to bounce back after the midweek loss [to Hood]. The win allows us to keep pressure at the top of the table.”

The game started at a slow pace as both teams had to adjust to slippery conditions from the morning showers.

Neither goalkeeper was tested until the 26th minute when Village’s Simons received a quickly taken throw-in from Troy Tucker before dribbling to the touch line and squaring the ball into the box. Shaquille Trott, the PHC goalkeeper, was equal to the task and blocked the cross with his feet.

PHC should have scored minutes later when Corey Booth combined well with Robinson to put Marco Warren through at goal with just Village goalkeeper Tahj Bell to beat. However, Warren rushed his shot and hit the ball over the top.

Devrae Tankard, the Village defender, set up his side’s opening goal just before the half with a strong run down the left flank to cross hard and low to the back post for a simple tap-in by Simons.

Village should have scored again early in the second half when Justin Bell’s cross found substitute Smith-DeShields, but he placed his header wide with the goal at his mercy.

To add insult to injury, PHC scored from the resulting goal kick when Booth won the ball from a half clearance to send Robinson through on goal. The Bermuda forward did well to hold off two defenders before slipping the ball under the advancing Bell.

PHC goalkeeper Trott did well to keep the scores level when, after chasing a cross to the touchline, he had to recover to make a save from Demitre Daniels after a corner kick found him out of position. Trott was not so lucky with Village’s second goal as Daniels and Tucker combined to give Smith-DeShields a shot at goal, which Trott did well to block with his feet.

Simons, however, was first to the rebound and was able to slot the ball past the already grounded keeper.

Shakhai Trott thought he had found an equaliser when he flicked a Warren pass over his head before turning and unleashing a volley at goal, although Bell did well to push the ball over the top.

The game’s best goal came in the 80th minute when Smith-DeShields was on the receiving end of a long, diagonal ball before keeping his composure to produce a delicate, boot-laced chip that eluded the outstretched arm of the advancing Trott. PHC were reduced to ten men in the 83rd minute when DeAun Lodge was sent off for his second bookable offence.

By this time, Village had the three points sewn up.

SCORERS

North Village: Simons 44, 62, Smith-DeShields 80

PHC Zebras: Robinson 49

TEAMS

North Village (4-2-3-1): T Bell — J Daniels (sub: P Castle 79min), K Knights, Z Robinson, D Tankard — D Daniels, J Briers — T Tucker, R Simons, J Bell (sub: C Caisey 77) — K Bean (sub: J Smith-DeShields 42). Substitutions not used: R Rochester, A Darrell, R Murphy, Z Hendrickson. Booked: Knights.

PHC Zebras (4-2-3-1): Shaquille Trott — D Smith-Lightbourne, N Griffith, M Lambe, D Usher — Shakhai Trott, D Lodge — C Booth, J Sealey (sub: J Joseph 75), M Warren — C Robinson. Substitutions not used: C Fubler, J Hassell, E King-Mills, T Welch, Z Lee. Booked: Lambe, Warren. Sent off: Lodge.

Referee: L Christopher.