St George’s 0 PHC 3

PHC advanced through to the Friendship Trophy semi-finals after easing to to a 3-0 victory over Premier Division rivals St George’s at Wellington Oval on Sunday.

Marco Warren finally broke the deadlock ten minutes into the second half, with further goals from Kadeem Abraham and Paul Simons sealing their progression.

Head coach Winston Trott was particularly pleased with his team’s focus in reaching the next round.

“Everyone did their part,” he said. “We defended well, and we took our chances. “Victory was the main goal. “We got a shutout, that is a bonus.”

After a goalless first half, in which Abraham failed to capitalise on the clearest chance, firing straight at Jahquil Hill after the hosts failed to properly clear a corner from the right flank, the visitors took the lead against the run of play in the 55th minute.

They were quick to win the ball in the final third, with De-Aun Lodge finding Keishon Bean, who hit the near post from close range, but captain Warren was in position to tuck home the rebound.

PHC doubled their lead just four minutes later from a lovely team move, with T’syi Showers slipping in Abraham to open his body and finish low to the far post from a tight angle.

St George’s attempted to make a comeback when Blaiz Hall threaded a beautiful pass into Allan Douglas Jr, but goalkeeper Coleridge Fubler extended his body and made a point-blank reflex save.

Kashe Hall also flighted a free kick into the penalty area, but Philip Anderson’s attempted flick was grabbed out of the air by Fubler before Douglas could nod it into the empty net.

As the home side continued to push for a route back into the game it became stretched, and Zebras were allowed to create far more openings.

Paul Simons found substitute Shavon Nisbett on the opposite flank, but the winger could only strike straight at Hill.

Nisbett continued to look dangerous off the right after replacing Showers, this time cutting back for Warren, but the playmaker struck another effort straight into the grateful arms of Hill.

However, PHC finally added a third in stoppage time. Darren Usher clipped a pass forward, with Warren cheekily flicking on for Simons to control and finish into the near post to seal an emphatic victory.

Despite his disappointment St George’s head coach Jarreau Hayward remained gracious in defeat.

“We weren’t at our best,” he said. “They were the better team, credit to PHC, I hope they win the competition.

“Today we weren’t completely at it. A lot of people played out of position, some even half-injured. I am really proud of the team spirit. We had several players who started away from their preferred positions, but we stayed together, yet lost to the better team.”

SCORERS

PHC Zebras: Warren 55, Abraham 59, Simons 90+1

TEAMS

St George’s Colts (4-2-3-1): J Hill 5 – W Broadley 4 (sub: K Wilson 64 mins 4), T Burgess 5, P Anderson 5, D Lodge 3 (sub: G Wade 19 5) – K Hall 6, E Signor 4 (sub: J Brangman 78) – M Paynter 5, M Trott 4 (sub: S Greenidge-Saltus 46 4), B Hall 5 – J Smith 5 (sub: A Douglas Jr 64 5). Substitutes not used: J Dickinson, A Francis; Booked: Broadley

PHC Zebras (4-3-3): C Fubler 5 – D Usher 4, N Griffith 6, J Bather 6, D Smith-Lightbourne 6 – D Lodge 5 (sub: D Dowling 86), K Abraham 6, M Warren 7 – K Bean 6 (sub: J Sealey 57 5), P Simons 6, T Showers 6 (sub: S Nisbett 78). Substitutes not used: Shaquille Trott, M Lambe, K Lewis, Shakhai Trott. Booked: Usher, Lodge

Referee: J Evens (Bahamas)