PHC 0

North Village 1

Substitute Norris Wilkinson struck 11 minutes from time to give North Village this narrow win over PHC at Southampton Oval yesterday.

On the field for little more than 10 minutes, Wilkinson reacted fastest to a Keith Jennings shot that came back off the post and forced the ball past a clutch of PHC defenders.

Jennings paid a painful price for beating goalkeeper Raymond Glasford to a 50-50 ball, a blow below the waste left Village, who had used all their substitues, effectively playing the final 10 minutes a man down.

While the goal came against the run of play, Zebras failed to make the most of their dominance in the second half, with Keston Lewis' scuffed shot inside the area symptomatic of their finishing for most of the afternoon.

Even then the home side might have grabbed a draw. In a frantic closing spell they laid seige to the Rams goal, and Lloyd Holder hit the crossbar with the last kick of the game.

The win kept Village's slim Premier Division title hopes alive with Shaun Goater's side fourth and six points behind league leaders Devonshire Cougars, but it came at a price. Jemeiko Jennings limped out of the game midway through the first half after dislocating a toe on his left foot and may now be out for the rest of the season.

Although it was Wilkinson's goal that ultimately sealed the win, and three vital points for Rams, stand-in goalkeeper Pierre Smith was the hero of the day.

Thrown between the sticks because regular goalkeeper Calvin Augustus had work commitments, the striker produced an outstanding display that might convince Shaun Goater to keep him there on a permanent basis.

"We were really stretched today," said Village boss Goater. "I didn't have much choice but to stick him in goal, and he did exceptionally well. But all the boys did. We were up against it in the second half, which Zebras dominated."

PHC Zebras: R. Glasford, B. Bean, J. Ball, T. Russell, K. Richards, S. Givans, K. Lewis, C. Robinson (C Furbert, 81mins), C. Castle (S Astwood, 65mins), K. Lambe (L Holder, 65mins), D. Russell. Subs not used: J. Smith, M. Lambe, Q. Burgess, K. Griffith.

North Village Rams: P. Smith, K. Jennings, D. Edwards, K. Dill, D. Tankard, S. DeGraff, J. Peniston, R. Bean, J. Jennings (R Wilson, 26mins), R. Spence (N. Wilkinson, 67mins), V. Minors (M. Godley, 71mins). Subs not used: D Simons, Z. Hendrickson.

Man of the match: P. Smith

Referee: Ronue Cann