Dandy Town 3

PHC Zebras 1

Dandy Town’s Premier Division title defence gained more momentum after they staged a dramatic comeback to beat PHC Zebras at St John’s Field yesterday.

Marquel Waldron, the PHC defender, blasted home from a set piece to put the visiting side’s noses in front.

But Town’s never-say-die approach ultimately shone through as late goals from teenage substitutes Jahtino Richardson-Martin and Jahnazae Swan, and Angelo Simmons turned the game on its head and left PHC licking their wounds.

“The guys showed a lot of guts and character today,” Jomar Wilkinson, the Town coach, said.

“To go down 1-0 off a dead-ball situation was unfortunate. The players stuck to the plan, though, and continued to push on and we prevailed.

“We have a never-say-die attitude at Dandy Town, so even when we are faced with adversity we push on. That’s what we did today, and it was nice to see our youth players come on at a critical stage of the game and deliver.”

Town’s fifth league win of the season lifted them into second in the table, one point behind leaders Somerset Trojans, who were held to a 1-1 draw against St George’s Colts at Somerset Cricket Club on Friday night.

Despite getting their title defence off to a sluggish start, Town have managed to drag themselves back in the thick of contention for league honours heading into the business end of the season.

“We have a strong belief at Dandy Town,” Wilkinson said. “Even when we were eight points behind we still believed we could contend for the league title.

“Angelo [Simmons] has been a big influence and the players have started to trust each other a bit more and are more committed to doing the extras, which are starting to pay off.”

Although they were forced to chase the game, Town’s victory was thoroughly deserving as they dominated most of the physical contest and created more clear-cut chances.

With better finishing Town could have put the game to bed early and spared their coaching staff and supporters some anxiety.

Ayshaun Smith, the Town striker, blasted over the bar from 12-yards with Daniel Adams, the PHC goalkeeper, at his mercy.

Smith also headed over from close range and then hesitated too long to pull the trigger at the near post with only Adams standing in his way.

Tomiko Goater, the Town midfielder, also went close with a 25-yard effort that grazed the bar.

PHC sat deep in their own half and relied on the long ball to catch Town on the quick break.

But they eventually pressed and after stretching Town were rewarded when Waldron’s shot from Cecoy Robinson’s corner kick took a deflection off a defender before crossing the line.

The goal came somewhat against the run of play and seemed to knock Town off their stride. But the home side did not panic and after changing their shape pulled off a spectacular fightback, scoring three unanswered goals in the space of twelve minutes to send their supporters into raptures.

Wilkinson’s decision to bring on Richardson-Martin and Swan and the experienced Kevin Hurdle with the game on the line paid off as the trio’s presence tipped the scales in the home side’s favour.

Hurdle provided Town with an extra attacking threat and the space he helped create allowed Simmons, Richardson-Martin and Swan to run tiring PHC legs ragged.

Richardson-Martin sparked his team’s revival when he controlled Damon Ming’s throw in and volleyed past Adams from 25-yards out after spotting that the goalkeeper had strayed off his line. Swan then grabbed the winner when he headed Simmons’s cross past Adams at the back post, the 17-year old forward making the most of his opportunity after being afforded far too much time and space.

Swan then went from scorer to provider when he played the ball into space for Simmons to run onto and finish with aplomb from an angle to make the points safe.