Dandy Town 3

Hamilton Parish 1

Seemingly out of the title race at one stage this season, Dandy Town are now a point behind Somerset Trojans and closing fast.

Jomar Wilkinson’s side narrowed the gap to one point yesterday after a convincing win over title rivals Hamilton Parish at Goose Gosling Field.

Goals from Damon Ming, Jahtino Richardson—Martin and Angelo Simmons earned Town their eighth league victory of the campaign and more importantly placed them hot on the heels of Trojans who dropped valuable points in a 2-1 home loss to Devonshire Cougars on Friday night.

Angelo Cannonier, the Parish striker, scored a late consolation for the visitors who were simply out of their depth against a well oiled Town unit that looked every part the champions they are.

Had it not been for some timely saves by Nigel Burgess, the Parish goalkeeper, a sure penalty that went unchecked by the match officials and a rare glaring miss by Richardson-Martin, Town may have won by a wider margin such was their dominance on the pitch.

“I was pleased with our performance today. We played as a team, used the ball wisely, defended as a unit and offensively we brought it so I’m very pleased,” Wilkinson, the Town coach, said.

With so much at stake, Town left nothing to chance and even after jumping out to a commanding 3-0 lead kept their attacking formation in search of more goals.

“I thought we could get maybe one or two more goals because we took our goal difference into consideration,” Wilkinson said.

Town will now look for maximum points from their last two games, against Southampton Rangers at home and Flanagan’s Onions away at Goose Gosling Field, which has been a happy hunting ground for Hornets this season. Still, they will need Trojans to slip up in order to retain their title.

“It’s very exciting and we are going to try and keep the pressure on and make sure we do what we have to, and that’s win games one game at a time,” Wilkinson said. “If Somerset slips up we will be right there.”

Parish, who suffered the second straight loss against a league title contender, were never really in this contest and their frustration was perhaps best summed up by the dismissal of De’von Rogers from the substitutes’ bench in the 73rd minute for foul and abusive language.

A clearly upset Keishon Smith, the Parish coach, declined to comment on his team’s dismal performance, one that has reduced their title hopes to slim at best.

Following a minute’s silence in memory of late Somerset Cricket Club president Colin Smith, Parish enjoyed the early exchanges between the two sides, with Cannonier’s pace a cause for concern up front.

Shayne Hollis, Parish’s diminutive midfielder, missed a gilt-edged chance when he sliced Donovan Thompson’s knock-down in the box wide.

Hollis’s glaring miss came back to haunt Parish, as Town then struck twice in the space of three minutes.

Ming opened the scoring with Town’s very first shot on target from a set piece. Ayshaun Smith, the Town forward, took a short corner and before Parish could react Ming slammed the ball into the back of the net from a slight angle.

The goal clearly rattled Parish and before they could regroup Town doubled their lead when Richardson-Martin side footed Jahnazae Swan’s cross past a hapless Burgess.

Swan was denied by Burgess late in the first half after the goalkeeper made a one-handed save to repel the forward’s free header at the back post, and Parish went close again before the break when Hollis fizzed a free kick past the far upright.

Parish played with more purpose early in the second half with Mikkail Crockwell, the Town goalkeeper, denying Cannonier and Thompson, while Shakeem Albouy dragged Christian Smith’s cross wide.

Town should have been awarded a penalty when Simmons was brought down in the box by Burgess as he shaped up to shoot. Teenager Richardson-Martin, playing with a maturity belying is age, then hurried a shot wide with only Burgess to beat.

Wilkinson brought on Kevin Hurdle in the 70th minute and the striker was denied twice by Burgess before Simmons controlled a long ball, picked his spot, and fired past the onrushing Parish goalkeeper.

Parish finally opened their account a minute later when Cannonier scored from close range after Town failed to clear their lines during a goalmouth scramble.