PHC Field 2 North Village 2

A perfectly converted 90th-minute free kick by captain Keishen Bean earned North Village a share of the points in a dramatic ending to this top-of-the-table Premier Division match at PHC Field yesterday.

PHC looked on course for a deserved win after holding the upper hand throughout the match, but it turned out to be the Bean show late in the second half as he brought the visiting side back from a 2-0 deficit with two well-taken goals in the final 15 minutes.

The Bermuda captain started the Village fightback with a lob over goalkeeper Stefan Dill as immediately Village began to look a different side.

The equalising goal with virtually the last kick of the game left the home team totally deflated as they had to settle for a share of the points which prevented them from opening up a six-point gap over Village going into next weekend’s final round of matches before the Christmas break.

It was a well-placed free kick which Bean curled inside the near post that wiped out PHC’s lead. The chance came when full back Kadeem Abraham was blown for a handball just outside the penalty area. The free kick was perfect and sent the Village players racing after their captain as they celebrated the point that keeps them three points behind the leaders.

“It was two really good goals,” said coach Devarr Boyles of the double strike by Bean. “I’m happy for him, he’s been battling for the team.”

There were few clear-cut chances in the first half, although PHC had a greater share of the possession.

Things got more interesting after the restart, however, as a header from Tre Ming to a Cecoy Robinson corner sailed over the bar.

The goal finally came in the 61st minute when a long ball forward towards the Village penalty area saw midfielder Mazhye Burchall brought down by defender Tareeko Wilson. The composed Robinson sent Jason Williams the wrong way from the resulting penalty.

Williams, playing his first match of the season after doubts over Tahj Bell’s availability because of work commitments, was beaten again in the 72nd minute when Tristan Hall, who had just come on to replace Marquel Waldron, finished off a good PHC move with a well-placed shot into the bottom corner after Tre Ming laid on the pass just inside the box.

Bean pulled a goal back for Village three minutes later and immediately Boyles’s side improved as they started to push forward with more purpose. Persistence paid off as Bean denied them at the death, PHC only having enough time to kick off again before the final whistle blew.

“I was wondering if we would cave in or stand up and the answer was stand up,” a delighted Boyles said as a brief shower rained on PHC’s parade.