PHC 2

Somerset Trojans 1

A slugfest between two heavyweights produced the expected fireworks at the Southampton Oval yesterday.

PHC emerged victorious after scoring two quick-fire goals in the span of 50 seconds a minute before half-time.

Save for some poor finishing by the PHC strikers and timely stops by Shaquille Bean, the Somerset goalkeeper, PHC might well have tripled their tally.

It was Somerset who struck first in the eighteenth minute after some inventive passing down the left flank and a deep penetrating and searching cross.

A poor clearance by the PHC defence inside the six-yard box then allowed an unmarked Vashun Blanchette, the Trojans midfielder, to rise and nod the ball calmly into the right corner. In the 20th minute, PHC offered a glimpse of what was to come as Bean was called on to make a fine save from a 20-yard strike by Shakir Smith. Throughout the afternoon, Smith’s pace would cause headaches for the Somerset defenders and for the next ten minutes, PHC’s searing passes found the streaking Smith bearing down on goal with the Somerset goalkeeper being called on several times to keep his team in contention.

Finally, PHC broke through in the 43rd minute with a strike from youngster Diondre Dowling, who raced by two Somerset defenders after receiving a long through-ball to slot home brilliantly.

PHC were at it again less than a minute later when they scored a penalty through Smith, who deftly stroked the ball into the left corner to put PHC a goal up at the half.

After the opening fifteen minutes of the second half, both teams created dangerous attacks on goal, only to come up against stifling defences.

PHC’s frontline asserted themselves midway through the second half but Somerset’s bend-but-don’t-break attitude kept the marauding attackers at bay.

Somerset made several substitutions to bring on fresh bodies in search of the equaliser.

They came dangerously close on more than one occasion with shots either directly at the goalkeeper or slightly of the mark.

In the end, it was not to be and PHC emerged victorious, thereby tightening their foothold at the top of the standings.