North Village 0

St George’s 0

Zeko Burgess flew to his side’s rescue in more ways than one yesterday.

The St George’s goalkeeper, who is studying overseas, made a string of fine saves to help earn his team a valuable point against North Village after returning to the Island for a flying visit.

Bringing Burgess back for the game was a gamble, but it paid off handsomely for the East End club, and with just one point separating them from Southampton Rangers and Robin Hood it could prove to be priceless by the end of season.

With regular goalkeeper Charles Marshall Jr suspended, after his sending off against Hamilton Parish last weekend, much rested on Burgess’s young shoulders, and he did not disappoint. He positioned himself well on the goal line to gather a header from Keishen Bean, the Village midfielder, and then denied the same player after he had broken through the last line defence on a quick break that caught the visiting side snoozing.

Bean threatened again during the latter stages only to be once again repelled by Burgess who made a huge save with his feet at the near post to ensure St George’s came away with a share of the spoils.

St George’s also had their chances, but like the home side lacked a cutting edge in the final third.

Kameron Fox, the St George’s coach, praised Burgess for his superb goalkeeping display.

“We had the confidence to bring Zeko back for the match and it paid off,” he said. “Zeko is a hard worker and I am proud of his performance. Bringing him back was a gamble worth taking.”

Both teams, playing in the absence of several regulars, created chances in the first half but had nothing to show for their efforts at the break. Village dominated the earlier exchanges before St George’s shifted into high gear towards the end of the first half and nearly broke the deadlock on several occasions.

The home side went close first, Demetre Daniels, the Village midfielder, heading Jonathan Brier’s well measured cross tamely into the arms of Burgess, and Village knocked on the door again when Takeyhi Walker whipped in a cross only for it go untouched across the face of goal.

That was the closest Village came to scoring in the first half, and they were fortunate not to be punished for squandering their chances as St George’s piled on the pressure before the break.

The visiting side tweaked their shape up front, pushing three upfront, and the ploy nearly worked as they stretched a Village back line led by player/coach Ralph Bean, playing in the unusual role as sweeper.

With their confidence growing with each attacking raid, Macai Simmons, the St George’s midfielder, sent in a cross that went untouched in front of goal.

David Signor then had an inviting cross frantically cleared away while team-mates Phillip Anderson and Kentai Burton both had close-range efforts blocked with the Village defence in panic mode.

Troy Hall Jr, the Village goalkeeper, was also forced to make a spectacular one handed save at his far post to deny Jarazinho Bassett, the St George’s forward.

Yesterday’s see-saw battle was officiated by female referee Cassadra Trott making her debut in the middle at this level. Trott booked three players, with Village’s Kwan Smith being the first player booked by the female referee at Premier level.