PHC 1 North Village 1

Jonté Smith scored yet another clutch goal in the final minute to secure a point for North Village at PHC Field last night, but the winless champions are in danger of being cast adrift after a third consecutive draw.

Village had the better of a first half where both goalkeepers stole the show.

The first big chance fell to Amir Dill, who forced a save out of Quinaceo Hunt inside five minutes. The visiting side created another clear opportunity moments later when Smith held the ball up for London Steede to feed Dill, who cut back for Steede to hit the crossbar from close range.

Zebras were far too passive in their possession throughout the match, but looked dangerous almost every time they increased their tempo.

Daren Usher played a ball forward for Enrique Russell in space, and he fed Zakiyah Lee, but Village goalkeeper Detre Bell made a reflex save low at his near post to deny the speedy Zebras winger.

Village largely had the measure of the PHC attack, holding a disciplined line and closing spaces when the home side tried to play through the middle. Their speed of passing also forced the Zebras on to the back foot on numerous occasions, with centre-half pairing Naeem Griffith and Jaylon Bather being pinned into their own half for large spells in the first period.

Steede had another golden opportunity midway through the first stanza, but Hunt was equal to his low effort, pushing it around a post. Zebras had one final chance to go into the break with the lead, but Arnezha Astwood dragged his effort wide after a sweeping move.

Village suffered a blow as key figure Steede could not come out for the second half because of a hamstring injury. He was replaced by former Young Men’s Social Club attacker Pierre Smith in a straight switch on the right.

Zebras had their best spell of the game in the first 15 minutes of the second half, and opened the scoring with the first moment of individual magic in the game. DeAndre Smith-Lightbourne drove through a few Village challenges and struck a low effort past Bell to spark Zebras into life.

Village continued to play their game despite going behind just before the hour, and Tahmi Williams could have equalised minutes later when he was afforded space on the edge of the area, but his powerful drive flew over the bar.

Zebras made a triple change midway through the half, including the energetic Haile Eve, who tried to make something happen with about 15 minutes remaining, but overhit a pass intended for the underlapping run of Astwood.

Village were still the more cohesive side despite the deficit, and Che’kai Caisey could have been the hero, but he sliced an effort wide from the edge of the area — and Zebras could breathe for a few more moments.

However, right at the end of normal time, Caisey was fouled by De-Aun Lodge on the edge of the area. Village worked the free kick quickly and substitute Knory Scott swung the ball in for Smith to outjump the PHC defence and glance his header past the despairing dive of Hunt.

SCORERS

PHC: Smith-Lightbourne 59

North Village: J Smith 90

TEAMS

PHC Zebras (4-2-3-1): Q Hunt 7 — D Usher 5 (sub: D Lodge, 54min 5), N Griffith 6, J Bather 6 (sub: A Simons, 67 5), K Abraham 5 — D Smith-Lightbourne 7, A Nelson 6 (sub: S Burrows, 67 5) — C Eve 5 (sub: K White, 67 5), A Astwood 5, Z Lee 6 (sub: H Eve, 81) — E Russell 5. Substitutes not used: D Wainwright, J Richardson. Booked: C Eve, Russell.

North Village (4-2-3-1): D Bell 6 — K Harrison 6, Q Outerbridge 6 (sub: K Scott, 79), R Sampson 6, T Fray 5 — T Williams 6 (sub: T Tucker, 86), S Spence 5 — L Steede 6 (sub: P Smith, 46 6), A Dill 6, C Caisey 7 — J Smith 7. Substitutes not used: Jabri Hayward, Jabari Hayward, T Outerbridge. Booked: Fray.

Referee: D Jackson.