St George’s Colts 4 Dandy Town 0

St George’s Colts rebounded from their first league defeat of the season to romp to victory over champions Dandy Town Hornets at Wellington Oval on Sunday.

After losing against Devonshire Cougars last week, St George’s appeared rejuvenated and outclassed their opponents in every component to score four unanswered goals, much to the delight of veteran striker and opening goalscorer Jahron Dickinson.

“I wish to congratulate the team for pulling off the victory,” Dickinson said. “Dandy Town tried hard but we executed the coaches’ instructions to outclass them today and collected the three points. We want to make a statement and also have some youth which I hope the national coach is looking at.”

The home side made the better start when prolific striker Jonte Smith rolled his marker but shot wide from 18 yards before smashing another flush against the upright forcing Town goalkeeper Daniel Johnson to save the rebound, which was headed towards goal.

Dandy Town struggled to find their rhythm but should have scored when Azendae Furbert put Cecoy Robinson through on an angle with a clear run at goal only for him to slice wide under pressure from the onrushing Colts’ goalkeeper Jahquil Hill.

The east enders’ dominance paid off immediately after this miss when a long clearance upfield from David Signor found Dickinson, whose low drive from just inside the box beat Johnson for pace as he dived to his left.

Tomiko Goater nearly equalided when he drove a shot from an angle which missed Hill’s upright by inches before Smith was instrumental in the Colts’ doubling their lead.

After receiving a pass, he played the ball wide to Manoj Paynter, who beat his marker but was brought down just inside the box by Michael Parsons as he headed towards goal. Captain Kashe Hall planted his spot kick down the middle to give Colts a deserved 2-0 lead into the break.

Goalkeeper Hill did well to keep the two-goal lead when Jomei Bean-Lindo’s curling free-kick went untouched forcing him to make a last-ditch, diving save.

That was the closest Town came to scoring in the second half as they were made to play second fiddle to an energised and disciplined team who kept searching for more goals.

Smith made the scoresheet in clinical fashion after he dusted himself off from being fouled at the top of the box to plant his curling free-kick around the wall and into the bottom-left corner before Blaiz Hall showed off his dribbling skills to dazzle defender Tre Manders. Hall left him in his wake as he cut inside and unleashed a firm drive to beat the outstretched arm of the diving Johnson.

SCORERS

St. George’s Colts

J Dickinson 29, K Hall 43 pen, J Smith 60, B Hall 62

TEAMS

St. George’s Colts (4-1-4-1): J Hill 7 --- N Paynter 6, T Burgess 6, D Signor 6, J Burgess 6 --- C Neal 6 (sub: D Lodge, 70 min 5) --- K Hall 7, J Dickinson 7 (sub: J Brangman, 80), B Hall 8 (sub: J Carlington, 80), M Paynter 7 (sub: K Wilson 65, 6) --- J Smith 8. Substitutes not used: P Anderson, L Dill, W Broadley.

Dandy Town Hornets (4-1-4-1): D Johnson 6 --- T Manders 5 (sub: Z Hart, 66 5), E Moore 6 (sub: S Darrell, 80), T Webb 6, M Parsons 5 --- A Furbert 5 --- C Robinson 6, J Lindo-Bean 6 (sub: Z Talbot, 85), T Goater 5, N Spence 5 (sub: D Scraders, 80) --- A Simmons 5. Substitutes not used: T Smith, D Gilbert. Booked: T Goater.

Referee: M Wyer