Somerset Trojans 2 PHC Zebras 3

PHC Zebras paid a heart-warming tribute to Marco Warren after edging Somerset Trojans to retain the Friendship Trophy in an entertaining final at Wellington Oval yesterday.

Zebras dedicated their record fourteenth title in honour and memory of Warren after prevailing courtesy of a brace from Kadeem Abraham and further goal from Jaheim Iris.

“We dedicate this win to Marco, to his family, to Vega [son], to Kallay [girlfriend], to all of them,” said Zebras coach Quincy Hunt.

“This is dedicated to them because he would have been out here.

“It feels great to win it and I am happy for Marco, happy for his family, happy for PHC and our family because we have been through so much over the last couple of months as an organisation.

“Everyone has been going through something that still seems surreal to us, losing Marco.

“I am happy that we could at least put a good foot forward for the family and for PHC and show that we are still strong and we’re striving and working together.”

Zebras captain Daren Usher was both thrilled and relieved to see the club successfully defend their title in Warren’s honour.

“It was definitely a weight off my shoulders,” he said.

“The team has been pushing hard the last couple of weeks just so we get to these moments like this and win it for Marco, so it’s definitely a relief and a pleasure to do it for him.”

Trojans replied through Haile Eve’s superb strike and captain Jadan Ratteray-Smith, who scored his team’s second late in second-half stoppage time.

PHC’s triumph was especially sweet for Hunt and Usher as it was their first since been appointed to their roles.

“I just have to thank god and everybody that’s pushed me to get to this stage of my life,” Hunt said.

Usher added: “I am new to this, but I am definitely honoured.

“It was definitely a good match and I am glad that we put on a show for the fans.”

The final scoreline flattered as Zebras dominated proceedings and should have won by a wider margin given the number of good looks they had at goal.

Zebras went straight for the jugular from the opening whistle but encountered stubborn resistance from a defensive-minded Trojans who packed numbers behind the ball and looked to catch their rivals on the counter attack.

Hunt’s team finally broke through with a goal virtually handed to them on a silver platter. Trojans custodian Nkenge Durham played a short goal kick to defender Jaz Ratteray-Smith whose intended punt up field rebounded off Zebras midfielder Abraham’s body and landed in the back of the net.

Abraham then doubled his team’s lead when he headed goalkeeper Quinaceo Hunt’s long kick into his path, rounded the onrushing Durham and slotted into the empty net.

At this point the blowout looked to be on the cards. However, Trojans had other thoughts in mind and cut the deficit in half through Eve’s stunning solo effort.

The striker took possession of defender Taj-Rae Outerbridge’s long pass, wove his way past three defenders and with his back to goal turned sharply in the box and thumped a left-footed shot into the top left corner.

Zebras went close to restoring their two-goal advantage just before the interval but with an entire goal to aim at right in front of him Abraham unselfishly dummied Iris’s inviting cross and the chance went begging.

However, the men in black and white would not be denied shortly after the restart as Iris finished off a fluent counter attack with what ultimately proved to be the winner.

Abraham’s midfield pass picked out Iris, who then exchanged passes with striker Enrique Russell before firing the latter’s cheeky back-heeled pass past Durham from inside the area.

By now Zebras were in full command and they threatened to open the floodgates as they began to run through Trojans at will.

Russell went agonisingly close when Durham tipped his free kick onto the post.

The striker then curled another free kick from a dangerous area just wide while midfielder and cousin Keishon Bean’s shot found the side-netting from a tight angle after rounding the onrushing Durham.

PHC’s defence momentarily switched off in the stoppage time, allowing Trojans captain Ratteray-Smith time and space on the left side of the box to score with a neat finish with virtually the last kick of the match.

Despite coming up short, Trojans coach Jensen Rogers was full of praise for his youthful team’s courageous display against their heavily favourite opponents.

“The display shows the fight in this team; the spirit and desire was there today,” he said.

“We made an uncharacteristic mistake and we paid the price for it in the end.

“We lost but we were not outplayed and hats off to PHC as a quality team.”

SCORERS

Somerset Trojans: Eve 34, Jadan Ratteray-Smith 90+4

PHC Zebras: Abraham 25, 32, Iris 47

TEAMS

Somerset Trojans (4-2-3-1): N Durham 7 — T Cariah 7 (sub: E Mendes, 80min), Jaz Ratteray-Smith 7 (sub: J Powell, 80), T Outerbridge 7, M Tear-Deleon 7 — P Robinson 7, J Shields 6 (sub: M Tankard, 56 6) — K McNeil 7 (sub: J Greaves, 80), R Russell 6 (sub: S Tatem, 56 6), Jadan Ratteray-Smith 7 — H Eve 8. Substitutes not used: J Brangman, K Symonds, C Durham. Booked: Jadan Ratteray-Smith, Outerbridge.

PHC Zebras (4-1-4-1): Q Hunt 7 — D Smith-Lightbourne 7, J Bather 7, D Dowling 7, D Usher 7 — K Bean 7 (sub: D Lodge, 88) — A Simons 7, K Abraham 8, T Showers 7 (sub: J Joseph, 61 7), J Iris 7 (sub: C McDowall, 88) — E Russell 7. Substitutes not used: S Trott, J Sealey, Z Lee, R Hassell, N Furbert, E King-Mills. Booked: Russell.

Referee: E Julmis (Bahamas).