X-Roads Warriors 2 Somerset Trojans 0

X-Roads Warriors collected three crucial points in their quest for Premiership survival as they beat under-strength Somerset Trojans 2-0 at St. David’s yesterday.

Prolific striker Donovan Thompson opened the scoring and set up the second to take advantage of an under-strength Trojans side who were missing noticeable starters in captain Jeze Butterfield and defensive marshall Jaz Ratteray-Smith. The visiting side’s medic also had as much of a workout as the players as she was called upon to tend to a fallen Trojan on at least five occasions as the western outfit limped to the finish.

Despite the shortfall, the Trojans had the first threatening attempt on goal when forcing X-Roads’ stand-in goalkeeper Jamie Furbert to dive to gather a low drive from Jaire Shields after he was put through by Jomari Gooden.

The Trojans were almost gifted the opener when Maquel Nisbett-Tankard and Coolridge Durham had a defensive mix-up allowing Tyquan Perinchief to nip in and steal the ball but his thunderous shot struck the upright and rebounded straight into the arms of goalkeeper Jade Morrissey.

X-Roads dominated possession, keeping the Trojans’ goalkeeper busy throughout as he first dived to his left to hold on to a Tyman Daniels’ drive then advanced to block Thompson as he was put through.

The Trojans had the ball in the net just before the half when young Enrique Mendes chipped Furbert but his effort was ruled out for offside and they nearly scored when Gooden met Simeon Burrows’ corner but his header grazed the crossbar as it went over to end the half scoreless.

X-Roads made two tactical changes at the start of the second half moving Thompson from attacking midfielder to out-and-out striker and brought on Jaman Lottimore as an attacking threat down the right flank.

Those tactical switches paid dividends when full-back Orlyn Williams won possession to play Thompson through. The poacher turned his marker before slotting the ball pass the advancing Morrissey to open the scoring. Minutes later, the goalscorer would become provider when substitute Darren Woolridge delivered an inch-perfect pass to put him through but goalkeeper Morrissey did well to block his shot only for Thompson to play the rebound into the path of Lottimore, who side-footed into the net.

X-Roads had stellar defensive performances from stand-in goalkeeper Jamie Furbert and central defenders Larry Simmons and Daniel Teleman as they worked tirelessly to keep the Trojans at bay to secure the shut-out.

“I thought we played well and dominated the game although in the first half we didn’t look too good defensively but as we progressed, we got more organized and started to defend well,” said a satisfied X-Roads coach Ralph Bean Jr.

“We knew how important this game was so I made the tactical changes to put pressure on them and it worked.”

Scorers:

X-Roads

D Thompson 72, J Lottimore 83

TEAMS

X-Roads Warriors (4-1-4-1): J Furbert 7 --- N Smith 6, L Simmons 8, D Teleman 7, O Williams 6 --- T Daniels 7 --- K Brangman 5 (sub: D Woolridge, 66min 6), D Thompson 8, C Brangman 6, R Beek 5 (sub: J Lottimore, 46 mins 7) --- T Perinchief 6 (sub: J Morgan 66, 5). Substitutes not used: A Daniels, A Wilson. Booked: N Smith.

Somerset Trojans (4-2-3-1): J Morrissey 8 --- D Ming 6, M Nisbett-Tankard 6, C Durham 6, M Henschke 5 --- M Joell 5 (sub: D Swan 77 min, 6), J Gooden 6 --- J Ratteray-Smith 6, S Burrows 7, J Shields 6 (sub: J Iris, 53 5) --- E Mendes 6 (sub: D Wainwright, 46 5). Substitutes not used: Z Seymour, K Joyiens, A Morrissey.

Referee: M Wyer