PHC Zebras 7 Young Men’s Social Club

PHC Zebras remain unbeaten at the top of the Premier Division and Young Men’s Social Club winless at the bottom as the home team enjoyed a first-half goal blitz at PHC Field yesterday.

Social Club, arguing among themselves as frustration set in early, were already trailing 4-1 by the half-hour mark as PHC’s pace and movement proved too much for them to handle.

PHC Field was Social Club’s home ground last season in their successful promotion push, but they were given anything but a warm reception by the host side as the Zebras ran rampant after Marco Warren broke the deadlock in the eighth minute when he hooked the ball over the head of goalkeeper Koshun Lightbourne.

Lightbourne conceded a penalty that resulted in the second goal midway through the half when he fouled Tre Ming after another slick PHC move inside the box. Lightbourne was then booked for swearing in frustration after captain Cecoy Robinson converted his spot-kick.

Three goals came in the space of five minutes midway through the half, including a consolation goal for the visiting side when Jahmair Lewis-Trott followed up to convert after the diving Quinaceo Hunt allowed a cross to escape his clutches.

PHC went close just before that when Warren blasted his shot against a post after Ming sent him through. Moments later PHC made it 3-0 when full back Daren Usher scored from near the touchline just inside the Social Club penalty area with a chip that caught Lightbourne off his line.

Social Club were down to ten men when PHC netted their fourth on the half-hour mark, Dahlano Simons off the field getting assistance after not feeling well. A quick break by PHC caught Social Club vulnerable at the back as Warren created the opening for Idrees Sharrieff to drive a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

An equally clinical finish by Robinson just before the break all but assured PHC of their seventh win in nine matches. A long ball forward put Robinson in front of the chasing Callan Woolridge and he hit a first-time shot past Lightbourne from just inside the box.

“The main thing is we continue converting the amount of opportunities that we get, and that’s critical for us,” Scott Morton, the PHC coach, said.

“The other thing is we have to make sure we play with a lot more rhythm, sometimes we get a bit overconfident because maybe the opponents are not creating too much pressure for us. We just have to be disciplined during those times and respect the opponent and make sure we keep them on the back foot.”

The heavy downpour that was forecast came during the break as the teams returned to the field, with the rain falling steadily for the rest of the match.

Tre Ming was rewarded for his hard work in midfield with a goal in the 59th minute as PHC extended their lead to 6-1, netting from close range.

To their credit Social Club kept their heads up and continued to battle despite the odds, as PHC found another scorer in substitute Casey Castle who ran through down the left side before chipping the ball over the advancing goalkeeper at the near post.

“I give a lot of credit to Social Club and their coaching staff, I heard them still encouraging their players to fight back,” Morton said.

“I really appreciate them and what they brought, but again credit to my players for the conversion of chances.

“I don’t even remember the scoreline, for me it is the way that we play which is building for the next match.

“It’s important that we have the consistency because when you win it builds confidence. They were very disappointed that they gave up that one goal. When they came in at half-time their heads were down and I appreciate that.”

GOALSCORERS

PHC Zebras

Warren 8, Robinson 20 pen, 44, Usher 25, Sharrieff 30, Ming 59, Castle 79

Social Club

Lewis-Trott 27

TEAMS

PHC (4-4-3): Q Hunt — D Usher, R DeShields, M Lambe, K Abraham — T Ming (sub: N Griffith, 69min), J Hassell, D Davis (sub: K Hypolite, 60), M Warren — I Sharrieff (sub: C Castle, 57), C Robinson. Substitutes not used: S Trott, M Dill, S Valasse-Paul, D Lightbourne. Booked: DeShields.

YMSC (4-4-2): K Lightbourne — G Saltus (sub: J Simmons, 60), C Woolridge, K Francois, M Smith — D Simons (sub: T Fubler, 66), N Armstrong, K Butterfield, P Mallory (sub: P Darrell, 57), J Lewis-Trott, C Darrell. Substitutes not used: A Samuels. Booked: Butterfield, Lightbourne.

Referee: M Wyer.