PHC Zebras 4 Paget Lions 0

Cecoy Robinson netted a hat-trick as holders PHC Zebras scored a comfortable victory over Paget Lions at PHC Field to advance to the quarter-finals of the Friendship Trophy yesterday.

PHC netted twice in each half after their captain opened the scoring early in the first period. He then took a knock in the face just before the break, which left him with a bloody nose.

Robinson bounced back to score two more in the second half to seal the comfortable victory against a Paget side whose ranks were depleted because of injuries.

“I thought we played well today, having not played for a couple of weeks,” Robinson said. “This was a good game to get us back into it.”

Jensen Rogers, who took over this season as coach of First Division side Somerset Eagles but is still registered as a Paget player from last season, was named as a late inclusion and wore the captain’s armband.

He played in the heart of the defence in place of Robert Richardson, one of six changes to the team which drew 3-3 with X-Roads last weekend.

PHC broke the deadlock when Robinson laid the ball back to Tre Ming and then sprinted forward to get on to the long ball behind the Paget defence.

Ricardo Brangman, replacing Jason Smith in goal, got his fingers to Robinson’s lob as he came off his line but he could not prevent the ball from bouncing into the open goal.

Another good pass from Ming created PHC’s second goal six minutes later, this time Jahiem Iris was sent through on the left before he converted despite Brangman’s challenge.

Paget introduced top scorer Dion Stovell from the bench when full back Nelson Carpenter picked up a groin injury.

However, PHC were still controlling things as Brangman was busy throughout in the Paget goal. He made a point-blank save from Kenneth Matthie at the far post just before the half after a cross from the opposite flank by Kushae Hypolite.

Robinson went down with a blow to the face after a challenge before the break, receiving treatment for a bloody nose as PHC finished with ten men.

Robinson returned for the second half wearing a new jersey and he was soon back scoring again, netting twice in seven minutes early in the half to complete the rout. Paget threatened briefly early in the second half with Stovell providing that extra spark up front. A Na’eem Griffith error enabled Stovell to lay on a pass to Davin Dill on the edge of the box but his effort was blocked by Brangman.

PHC scored their third goal eight minutes after the restart when Rogers was punished for knocking Ming off balance as he raced into the box. Robinson sent Brangman the wrong way with his penalty.

Ming narrowly missed adding his name to the scoresheet when his free kick bounced just wide of the near post. However, Robinson did finish another chance on the hour when he tapped home from close range to complete his hat-trick, although Matthie deserved praise for doing the hard work down the left before providing the cross.

PHC’s victory should have been even greater, with Julian Carpenter clearing off the line after Iris followed up on a shot from Robinson that was blocked. Iris then crossed for substitute Jenico Sealey to get off a shot which was blocked by Brangman.

“It was a team effort, everybody worked hard,” Robinson acknowledged. “Linking up with Tre [Ming], who put the ball on a platter, made it easy for me.

“We are definitely looking to retain the trophy and we want to make sure we put our best foot forward. We’ve got a lot of young players and they are looking really good right now.”

PHC will play Somerset Trojans in the quarter-finals on December 16.

SCORERS

PHC Zebras

Robinson 16, 53, 60

Iris 22

PHC Zebras (4-3-3): Shaquille Trott — D Usher, M Lambe, N Griffith, D Smith-Lightbourne — M Simmons (sub: Z Ming-Wilson, 37min), T Ming, K Matthie (sub: J Sealey, 78) — J Iris, C Robinson, K Hypolite (sub: Z Lee, 64). Substitutes not used: T Place, Shakhai Trott, N Edwards, R DeShields.

Paget Lions (4-4-2): R Brangman — N Carpenter (sub: D Stovell, 31), S Worrell, J Rogers, J Carpenter — K Smith, C Smith, K Durrant, T Sanders — D Dill (sub: A Dean, 76), D Hart. Substitutes not used: J Smith, W Bean, K Whitter. Booked: Stovell.

Referee: M Wyer.