Wolves 1 PHC 2

It may have had only a fraction of the drama of the film but Wolves and PHC did their best to put on their own version of ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' yesterday.

As in the Sergio Leone classic, this Premier Division game had three main characters with Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach replaced by Wolves' Jared Peniston and Michael Higgs and PHC's Stefan Dupres.

In a game dominated by bad passes and squandered possession, Peniston stood out like a beacon as ‘the Good', while Higgs' blunder for PHC's second goal was enough for him to be given ‘the Bad' moniker and Dupres' boot to the stomach of the on-rushing Tori Davis, though unintentional, was truly ‘Ugly'.

Peniston was at the centre of everything Wolves did from the off - his skill, vision and invention far surpassing anything his team-mates or the opposition could muster.

With the game barely a minute old he sent a stooping header past the post and in the next attack did enough to win a corner after robbing Jevone Sealey and sprinting down the left wing.

His next move should have brought greater reward. Collecting the ball in his own half he released Nakia Smith. The captain lifted the ball into the box and Peniston hooked over his shoulder and goalward. However, it lacked the power necessary to beat Higgs and the game remained goalless.

Wolves were asking all the questions but were felled by a sucker punch in the 17th minute.

Jahnai Raynor capitalised on a defensive error, pushed the ball through to Dennis Russell and his low shot was too much for Higgs.

As is common with Dennis Brown's men, Wolves then began to bicker among themselves, preferring to admonish each other for what had gone before rather than concentrate on the job in hand.

Peniston, booked for diving after the opener, brought them back to their senses when he found Smith in a central position but he dragged his shot wide when he should have found the target.

The winger created another opportunity for Smith in the 26th minute but the effort from a diving header went just the wrong side of the upright.

After all of Peniston's tricky approach work it took a dead ball situation for Wolves to get back on level terms - Dion Wainwright rising highest to direct a free kick past Dupres.

Following the break the script dictated that Higgs throw all Wolves' good work away.

Perhaps blinded by the sun, he flapped at Duval Wilson's free kick, the ball dropping against the inside of the post and over the line. Raynel Lightbourne made sure there was no doubt over the legitimacy of the goal in referee Stuart Crockwell's mind, but it was Wilson who sought the accolades.

Wolves had a chance to drag themselves level for the second time in the 77th minute. Dennis Russell squared to Smith who placed his shot only to see Dupres block with his legs.

The last line of this particular story also belonged to the PHC ‘keeper.

Racing out of his area to get to a loose ball before Davis, Dupres missed completely and connected with the Wolves man's stomach with his knee and boot.

He must have been relieved to have caught referee Stuart Crockwell on a good day, the official, after some due consideration, brandishing only a yellow and not a red card in his direction.

Wolves: M.Higgs, T.Davis, J,Simmons, K.Partfit, A.Thomas, D.Wainwright, T.Trott, J.Peniston, C.Simmons, N.Smith, R.Ebbin (H.Burrows, 55 mins).

PHC: S.Dupres, S.Lewis, D.Wilson, D.Outerbridge, J.Sealey, J.Raynor, C.Furbert, O.Steede, S.Russell (J.Ball, 70 mins) ; D.Russell, R.Lightbourne (N.Simons, 84 mins).

Bookings: J.Peniston, C.Simmons (Wolves); J.Raynor, S.Dupres (PHC).

Men of the match: J.Peniston (Wolves); R.Lightbourne (PHC).

Referee: S.Crockwell.

In Women's League action, PHC saw off Wolves Girls 3-1 with goals from Shuntae Todd, Edna Madeiros and Genevana Simmons. Kiseantae Grant scored Wolves' consolation from the spot.