PHC 3 North Village 2

Any hopes North Village had of achieving the Triple Crown this season were killed off yesterday by PHC's two-goal hero Michael Williams, veteran Kenny Mills, who scored once, and skipper Stanton Lewis who turned in a sterling performance at centre-back.

The trio teamed up to play leading roles as PHC handily dismantled the defending champions in the Friendship Trophy final before a crowd of around 2,500 at the National Sports Centre.

Village got a late consolation goal to go along with the penalty opener they received via the boot of skipper Kentoine Jennings.

PHC fell behind after 31 minutes but refused to throw in the towel, despite Village pinning them down for lengthy spells.

Inspired up front by Mills, who was a menace to the defence all afternoon with some forceful dribbling, PHC looked anything but the team many felt would be suffering from a hangover incurred from a long, frustrating league season - one that saw them avoid relegation from the Premier Division on the last day of the campaign.

Williams got man of the match honours from a BFA panel but many would have picked Mills who not only scored a goal but set up Williams' first and was a non-stop workhorse, often rallying to aid his defence when they were under fire.

"When we fell behind I tried to pick up the team by getting Stevie Astwood to concentrate on counter attacks and to try to burn them out and that's what we did,'' said Mills.

"Although I played pretty good, my legs are gone and I had to use my brain a lot, allowing the youngsters to do the footwork and it all worked out well. I am happy for them because they show a lot of promise and if they keep it up they can go places."

Village were visibly dejected, realising that they hadn't played well enough for sustained periods at any time of the game.

They were forced to make a line-up change when striker Clay Smith felt discomfort from a knee injury and was replaced at the last minute by Tafari Outerbridge who put a shot inches wide of the post after 11 minutes.

Village watched after 30 minutes as Dwight Warren found Jamual Boyles clear on the right and the diminutive midfielder slammed his shot from 15 yards onto the bar. Kevin Jennings followed up by putting the rebound into the side netting from an angle some eight yards to the left.

A minute later, though, Village made amends when they got the deserved opener. Goalkeeper Jay Smith advanced off his line to foul Kofi Dill who had broken through the defence. The resulting penalty saw skipper skipper Jennings convert.

Six minutes later during one of many counter attacks spearheaded by Mills, the veteran striker got a cross from Williams and blasted it at the advancing goalkeeper Zane Hendrickson. The rebound fell back to Mills who gratefully slotted the ball home from close range to make it 1-1.

The goal unsettled Village whose defence was now in disarray and after 44 minutes that man Mills tore it to shreds with a move of elegance.

Gaining possession about 15 yards outside of the box, he brushed off the challenge of three defenders, dribbled forward and drilled a shot off goalkeeper Hendrickson's chest that fell at the feet of Steede. He then passed to the unmarked Williams who scored from a few yards out to give PHC a 2-1 lead at the half.

When play restarted PHC sought to put the result out of reach with Astwood drilling a shot inches over from 16 yards after a lucky bounce enabled him to slip through the defence.

But Village regrouped and were allowed to come back into the game. However, they were unable to get any decent shots off when they came within goal-scoring range.

After 77 minutes, in yet another counter, Williams brought the crowd alive when he netted following a corner by Steede - a goal that one expected would kill off any further challenge from Village.

But the champions refused to lie down and centre-back Dill fired home Village's second goal after an indirect free kick four minutes from the end to make the score look more respectable.

PHC: J.Smith; C.Dowling, S.Lewis, J.Sealey, D.Wilson; O.Steede, J.Raynor, S.Russell (J.Ball, 65 mins); M.Williams (J.Mallory, 85 mins), K.Mills, S.Astwood (D.Russell, 70 mins). Sub not used: S.Dupres. Booked: J.Smith, J.Sealey.

North Village: Z.Hendrickson; J.Thomas (D.Coddington, 71 mins), K.Dill, Kent.Jennings, R.Spence; J.Boyles, M.Hansey, D.Warren, J.Jennings; Kev.Jennings, T.Outerbrige (M.Dill, 60 mins). Subs not used: C.Augustus, S.DeShields, J.Davis, D.Thomas. Booked: J.Jennings.

Men of the match: K.Mills (PHC); Ken. Jennings (Village).

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.