PHC made the most of North Village's loss on Friday night with a victory yesterday that enabled them to reclaim top spot in the Premier Division.

The Zebras had to work hard for the points, though, against an already relegated St. David's team who showed plenty of fighting spirit.

In fact, had the Islanders converted a couple of good opportunities in the first half, the scoreline might have been different.

PHC eventually put the match out of reach with goals in the 12th and 34th minutes, while a penalty miss by the team's top scorer Stephen Astwood late in the game kept the scoreline respectable for the home team.

An outstanding strike by Raynel (Manga) Lightbourne broke the deadlock during a period when St. David's were holding their own and creating some openings.

Player-coach Sammy Swan laid off a short pass across the edge of the penalty area for Lightbourne, who composed himself and blasted a shot into the roof of the net.

Lightbourne was set up again in the 27th minute, this time by Kenny Mills, but his effort went wide of the far post. At the other end Chae Simmons fed Otis Minors a good pass inside the box where the shot from an angle was parried by goalkeeper Carlyle Crockwell for a corner.

St. David's blew a good chance to equalise in the 30th minute when Anthony Burchall twice failed to convert a cross from the left when inside the six-yard box, the first with a weak header and then with a shot that went wide of the far post.

PHC made them pay four minutes later when Astwood netted his ninth goal of the season. The St. David's defence allowed the ball to bounce around inside the box and after Kenny Mills' shot was blocked, Astwood followed up to tuck in the rebound.

Proven goalscorer Lionel Cann also failed to convert a good chance for St.

David's just before the break when he delayed his shot with just Crockwell to beat and Stanton Lewis had time to recover and knock the ball away.

Misses continued in the second half with with Swan setting up Otis Steede on the edge of the box only for the shot to go over the bar. Before that PHC had been pegged back in their own half as St. David's came out determined to fight back.

After bringing on McLee Smith and Kamal Hewey for the tiring Sammy Swan and the still injured Steede, PHC mounted a strong finish with Hewey and Smith combining to create a good opportunity.

The visitors should have had a third goal 11 minutes from the end when Mills' strong run forward was stopped by Shane Weeks who floored him just inside the box. But Sidney Minors made an easy save to his right from Astwood's penalty kick.

St. David's: S.Minors; A.Bartley (J.Pitcher 46 mins), S.Pitcher, S.Weeks, A.Lugo, M.Simons (M.Jones 81 mins), O.Minors, W.Bean, C.Simmons, L.Cann, A.Burchall (K.Lambe 57 mins).

PHC: C.Crockwell; D.Wainwright (E.Hunt 46 mins), S.Lewis, R.Lewis, A.Washington, C.Furbert, O.Steede (K.Hewey 68 mins), K.Mills, S.Astwood, S.Swan (M.Smith 68min), R.Lightbourne.

Referee: George O'Brien Men of the match: Shea Pitcher (St. David's), Kenny Mills (PHC) Yellow cards: Shane Weeks, Sidney Minors, Worrell Bean (St. David's), Stephen Astwood (PHC).