PHC Zebras 3 X-Roads Warriors 1

There were mixed emotions for PHC striker Paul Simons as he scored a hat-trick to lead his team to victory over former club X-Road Warriors, who finished the match with nine men on Sunday.

“It was a bittersweet moment but the most important thing was that we secured the three points to stay in contention for the league title,” Simons said.

“X-Roads gave me my first start in football so I owe a lot to them. We have always had a good relationship and it didn’t end on bad terms. They played hard and roughed me up at times but I was able to get the better of them today and for my new team.”

It took PHC only five minutes to open the scoring when X-Roads goalkeeper Q’ Shai Darrell’s bad clearance under pressure was intercepted by captain Marco Warren, whose initial shot was blocked, but Simons was quickest to react to the loose ball before firing past two defenders on the goal-line.

Warriors had two golden opportunities to equalise but were thwarted by PHC goalkeeper Coleridge Fubler on both occasions. Fubler was well positioned to push a powerful header from Chae Brangman around the post before making a reflex save to block Donovan Thompson’s thunderous header from six yards out to keep the one-goal advantage.

Fubler then registered an assist as PHC doubled their lead when he gathered a free-kick before releasing Simons with a long kick upfield. The striker was able to hold off two defenders before unleashing a left-footed drive, which nestled into the roof of the net beyond Darrell’s diving attempt as PHC took a deserved two-goal lead into half-time.

Minutes after the break, PHC went close when captain Warren threaded a pass down the right flank for Keishon Bean to cross but Simons’ header grazed the crossbar. Simons did not have to wait too long for his hat-trick as he scored from the resulting goal-kick.

The weak clearance was intercepted and played forward for Simons to run on to only to be brought down from behind as he was about to shoot. After dusting himself off, he planted his spot kick low and to the left of a diving Darrell.

Despite falling three goals behind, X-Roads continued to press like true warriors and they scored a well-deserved goal when Brangman fed an inch-perfect pass to Thompson, who held off his marker to sidefoot past the onrushing Fubler.

X-Roads threatened a comeback and should have reduced the deficit to one when Thompson was brought down as he dribbled inside the box. but Brangman’s spot-kick smashed against the crossbar with Fubler well beaten.

The visiting side’s attempt to get back into was made even more difficult as Rackwon Hare received a second yellow card for a reckless tackle before X-Roads substitute Terencio Lowe joined him in the stands eight minutes later when he was shown a straight red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity to Shakhai Trott, who was through on goal.

With the loss, X-Roads are still in search of their first points of the season and are off the foot of the table because of their superior goal difference over Robin Hood.

SCORERS

PHC Zebras

P Simons 5, 28, 56 pen

X-Road Warriors

D Thompson 75

TEAMS

PHC Zebras (4-2-3-1): C Fubler 7 --- D Smith-Lightbourne 6, M Lambe 6, D Dowling 6, D Usher 6 --- K Abraham 6, D Joell 6 --- M Warren 7, K Bean 6 (sub: S Trott, 80min), T Showers 6 (sub: D Richardson, 63 6) --- P Simons 8. Substitutes not used: W Trott, S Nisbett, N Griffith, D Lodge, J Hassell, K Lewis. Booked: K Bean.

X-Road Warriors (4-2-3-1): Q Darrell 7 --- N Smith 6, D Woolridge 5, D Teleman 6, R Hare 5 --- K Brangman 6, A Daniels 5 --- D Simons 5, C Brangman 7, J Morgan 6 (sub: T Lowe, 83) --- D Thompson 8. Booked: D Teleman, A Daniels, C Brangman, D Simons. Sent off: R Hare, T Lowe.

Referee: T Simons