PHC won't go into the Christmas break with their unbeaten record intact.

Wolves made sure of that at Devonshire Rec. yesterday.

Keemo Smith's 63rd minute strike ended the Zebras' unbeaten run, a record they badly wanted to carry into the second half of the season, having only come up from the Second Division this season.

Wolves looked more hungry and determined than their high-riding opponents and the deserved victory helped compensate for their failure to secure a Dudley Eve spot for the second straight season.

"We basically have ourselves to blame for that,'' said coach Dennis Brown.

"That's all behind us now and we just have to look forward to the second half of the season when our destiny will be in our own hands.'' Clearly Wolves were determined to go where no other team has gone before as the Zebras lacked punch up front in the absence of the suspended Stephen Astwood and Kenny Mills, who was working. In goal they had former St. George's keeper `Corby' Durrant playing his first game in place of Carlyle Crockwell who was watching from the sidelines.

"We know that three teams will go down this season and we have to get as many points as we can,'' added Brown.

"They are the league leaders so that was a motivating factor, and they hadn't been beaten and we wanted to be the first team to beat them.'' Wolves had a good chance to take a shock lead in the ninth minute when Nakia Smith broke free of Dano Outerbridge on the edge of the box but hit a weak left foot shot straight at the 'keeper.

Smith went close again in the 32nd minute when, from Keemo Smith's corner on the left, the striker headed against the bar with Durrant beaten.

PHC played second fiddle to Wolves for most of the first half with their best effort coming in the 35th minute when Otis Steede's long range shot, helped by the wind, just missed the post.

Moments later Steede flighted in another cross, this time from the other flank from a free kick and the effort was headed over the bar as PHC finished the half strongly.

But it wasn't until Wolves broke the deadlock that PHC started to look like the league leaders. The goal came from a corner on the right which saw Smith score from close range with a low shot at the second attempt play.

The whole game improved after that as PHC began their chase for an equaliser and Wolves kept looking for a second goal that would seal the points. A shot from 20 yards by Steede brought off a good diving save from Hewvonnie Brown.

Nakia Smith went close with another header at the other end as Wolves let the Zebras know they were still looking for goals. They maintained a tight rearguard as not even a free kick inside the box could bring the visitors an equaliser.

Wolves even held on in the final moments of the game with 10 men when goalscorer Smith went off with a bleeding nose.

"PHC are the type of team who play with a lot of determination and I have a lot of respect for them,'' said Brown.

"What I told my players in the beginning is we have to match their effort and combine our skill with that effort. I think we had a fairly good game today.

"The main thing I'm worried about is consistency. We defended a little better. This is a good platform and something to look forward to in the new year.'' Wolves: H.Brown; C.Lopes, L.Simmons, J.Warren, T.Davis, A.Thomas, S.Waldron, D.Simmons (J.Peniston 57 mins), K.Smith, N.Smith, M.Ray.

PHC: J.Durrant; C.Dowling, D.Outerbridge, R.Lewis, E.Hunt (D.Wainwright 76 mins), A.Washington (E.Dowling 80 mins), V.Ball, O.Steede, D.Wilson, M.Smith, R.Mallory (D.Francis 72 mins).

Referee: Lyndon Raynor Men of the match: Nakia Smith (Wolves), Otis Steede (PHC).

Yellow cards: Anthony Thomas, Dane Simmons (Wolves), Ricky Mallory, Enwar Hunt (PHC).

PHC's women's team handed Rude Girls their first loss in three seasons in the opening contest, winning 4-3.

PHC, who were hammered 10-2 by Rude Girls earlier this season in the FA Cup and then 1-0 recently in the Konica Cup final, had a dream start with two goals after just two minutes and never looked back.

Tasha Bean opened the scoring after just 30 seconds and Genevana Simmons made it 2-0 soon after, before Waynesha Bean scored the third in the 26th minute.

Rude Girls kept it close with goals in the 31st and 38th minutes through Tamisha Darrell. But Tschana Wade scored PHC's fourth in the 65th minute before Sakena Clarke gave Rude Girls further hope pulling it back to 4-3 with eight minutes remaining.