Paget 1 X-Roads 2

Striker Donavan Thompson scored with the last kick of the game to snatch victory for X-Roads in a tense Premier Division clash at Southampton Oval on Sunday.

The winning goal came in dramatic fashion after Paget were awarded a penalty in added time after fullback Kion Knights made a penetrating run into the area before he was clipped by Warriors defender Edivaldo Abranches.

Captain Diaje Hart struck his spot-kick off the post and was then rightly judged offside after Kushae Hypolite’s rebound effort was saved by Kamran Harvey before bouncing back to Hart.

Harvey reacted quickly with the free kick to pick out a wide-open Jaman Lottimore, who showed great awareness to cut back for Thompson to fire home into the far corner.

The ending masked a bright start by Paget, who kept the ball confidently, showed attacking intent and forced the Warriors defence back.

Their first clear opportunity came when X-Roads defender Abranches failed to get enough distance on a clearance and Paget forward Shakir Smith had a shot from the edge of the penalty area. The effort, struck with the outside of his left foot, clipped the outside of the near post.

The Warriors defence could not cope with the fluid movement of Paget’s forward trio of Smith, Hart and Michael Tyler Emery.

Paget found the breakthrough their play deserved in the thirteenth minute when Delray Rawlins played a direct pass to Smith down the left wing. Smith was allowed to cut inside Aadil Cajee before he looped a curling strike over the retreating Harvey into the far corner.

However, they became complacent for large periods after Smith's goal and X-Roads gradually turned on the intensity and increased their pressure.

They were the team to finish the first half stronger and could have been on terms going into the break. Khamori Brangman's through pass was just smothered by Paget keeper Shaquille Bean before it could reach Thompson near the penalty spot.

That scare failed to produce a response by Paget and X-Roads took charge of the second half.

They had far more conviction in their attacks and the increased intensity allowed them to win the majority of loose balls in midfield.

Neither side were really able to control the tempo due to the physical nature of the game, but X-Roads drew level midway through the half. Paget substitute Jamar Stovel took too long on the ball, allowing Thompson to cut back for Samuel McKittrick, who side-footed his finish through a few bodies beyond Bean.

Paget created their best chance to win the game when substitutes Rio Russell and Patraic Castle combined for the former to whip a low cross into the area, which Omari Tucker dummied for Hypolite, but Warriors defender Christian Smith blocked.

With time running out Hart was given the opportunity to get all three points for Paget but his penalty miss gave X-Roads the chance to claim a crucial victory in their first league match since returning to the Premier Division

Scorers

Paget Lions: Smith 13

X-Roads: McKittrick 67, Thompson 90+4

TEAMS

Paget (4-3-3): S Bean 6 — D Frost 5, J Carpenter 5 (sub: J Stovel, 46min 4), D Rawlins 6, K Knights 7 — T Davis 5 (sub: R Russell, 54 5), S Lambert 5 (sub: P Castle, 70), A Lee 5 — S Smith 6 (sub: K Hypolite, 77), M Tyler Emery 6 (sub: O Tucker, 70), D Hart 5. Substitutes not used: A Butterfield, K Leverock. Booked: Smith, Stovel.

X-Roads (4-1-4-1): K Harvey 6 — A Cajee 5 (sub: J Bean, 46 5), C Smith 6, E Abranches 5, K Douglas 5 (sub: T Dill, 70) — T Daniels 6 (sub: C Binnie, 79) — K Richardson 5 (sub: S McKittrick, 54 6), J Sousa 5 (sub: J Lottimore, 54 7), K Brangman 6, A Spencer 5 — D Thompson 6. Substitutes not used: C Smith, A Turner.

Referee: T Simons