PHC Zebras 2

Somerset Trojans 1

Ten-man PHC Zebras edged Somerset Trojans to finish top of Group A of the Dudley Eve Trophy at Devonshire Recreation Club yesterday.

Zebras and Trojans had already qualified from the group prior to the match, with both teams having beaten Hamilton Parish who were eliminated from the competition.

Mark Wade’s Zebras took a 20th-minute lead when Cecoy Robinson, the team’s captain, scored from close-range past Shaquille Bean, the Trojans goalkeeper.

Trojans, last season’s Premier Division winners, were soon on level terms after Tahj Wade, their dreadlocked striker, curled in a superb free kick five minutes later.

PHC started the second half the stronger of the two sides, with Shakir Smith firing wide from a good position and Diondre Dowling volleying over the bar from just a few yards out.

Smith registered his name on the scoresheet when he calmly tapped home from Robinson’s pinpoint centre in the 55th minute.

PHC looked firmly in control when a second yellow card to Rakeem DeShields offered Trojans hope of clawing their way back into the game.

Trojans, however, could not make their numerical advantage count with PHC doing enough to protect their slender lead.

Despite both sides knowing they had qualified for the knockout rounds, Wade said the game still had plenty of competitive edge.

“I’m happy with the result but I was a bit disappointed with the performance and that we resorted to the long ball — that’s not what we’re trying to do,” he said.

“There’s still plenty of work to do, but this victory should help build our confidence and momentum.

“I thought we responded well to going down to ten men, although it was a little bit nervous at the end.”