Mazhye Burchall, the PHC Zebras midfielder, could not have picked a bigger stage and better time to open his scoring account in senior football.

The 16-year-old CedarBridge Academy pupil broke the deadlock four minutes after coming on as a 74th-minute substitute in PHC’s 2-0 victory over Robin Hood in Wednesday’s Dudley Eve Trophy final at Wellington Oval.

Playing in his first cup final, Burchall was thrown into the mix with the game and proved more than equal to the challenge, playing with a maturity beyond his tender years.

“I felt a little nervous at first when I was told I would be coming on,” Burchall said. “But afterwards when my coach told me to do my best and try and score it built up my confidence.”

Whatever words of encouragement Mark Wade, the PHC coach, said to the promising player had the desired effect as he produced a moment of magic at a crucial time.

“It was my first goal in senior football and definitely one of my best ever,” Burchall, a cousin of former PHC defender Anwar Hunt, said.

Cecoy Robinson, the PHC captain, was delighted for Burchall to play an integral role in his team’s triumph.

“Mazhye has been very positive for us since the beginning of the season,” he said. “Every game he‘s come on and turned the game around for us.

“He has always been a bright spark for us and so it was only right that he got us the winner.”

Sammy Swan, the former PHC and Bermuda striker, believes that Burchall has a bright future ahead of him.

“I really think he is going to amount to something,” Swan said. “He’s a good youngster, his heart is really into it and I think he has a very bright future. You can’t help but look forward to bigger things from him.”

Echoing Swan’s sentiments, Jonathan Ball, the PHC defender and club president, said: “Mazhye is someone that we consider for the future but at the same time he is producing now, so kudos to him.

“We expect even bigger and better things from him in years to come.”

Shakir Smith, the striker, scored PHC’s other goal in the victory over Hood who played most of the match with ten-men after striker Antwan Russell was sent off just before half-time.