Paget 1 North Village 1

Paget Lions drew with North Village in their final match of the Premier Division campaign, despite playing the final 25 minutes a man light.

Lions youngster Xave Smith was given his marching orders for two quick bookable offences in the same sequence midway through the second half.

Village head coach Calvin Dill Jr was largely pleased with his side’s effort at White Hill yesterday and feels it was a good warm-up for the FA Cup Final next Sunday.

“This was good prep for next week,” Dill said. “This is a big field and we need to get used to that for the Final at National Stadium. We lacked intensity in the first half, but picked it up and ultimately deserved to win. That’s football, but there are things to work on in training.”

The first half was even but Village had the better of the opportunities and should have opened the scoring whrn Paget keeper Omari Deshields misjudged his punch from a corner and breathed a sigh of relief when he watched Jalen Harvey head just wide.

A few minutes later, Harvey nearly smashed a free kick into the net, but Deshields did well to make the reflex save and push it wide.

Both sides showed attacking intent and chances started to come at regular intervals. Paget fashioned their first real chance when quick passing between forward trio Xion Smith, Kamau Leverock and Antinori Butterfield saw the latter back-heel to Leverock, who shot tamely into the arms of Village keeper Detre Bell.

Che-Kai Caisey had his best moment going forward soon after, when he picked out Jonté Smith on the back post, but Village’s top scorer had his stooping header saved at the near post by Deshields.

Paget youngster Xave Smith proved the club have an immense future by firing in a fantastic opener, a magical curling effort from about 14 yards to the far corner as the hosts took a deserved lead.

Village should have been on terms almost instantly but Jai Bean should have done better with his effort after Smith fed him through on goal. Bean struck his low effort straight to Deshields.

Paget had the chance to go into the break with a two-goal cushion. Leverock cut back for Xion Smith, who clipped neatly into his captain Diaje Hart. However, Hart saw his volley blocked by the arm of Judah Chapman, who was subsequently booked. Hart hit the post with the resulting penalty to offer Village a lifeline.

Village knew they had to increase their tempo to end the season with victory, thus they introduced maverick forward Amir Dill, who replaced the cautioned Chapman in midfield.

The visitors equalised from a sweeping move that stemmed from much quicker passing, where Jordan Outerbridge cut back for Jai Bean to whip his effort through a crowd of Paget defenders past an unsighted Deshields.

Xave Smith turned from hero to zero within minutes either side of the break after he was initially booked on 66 minutes for abusive language. Moments later, he made another gesture towards referee Tashun Simons, who quickly pulled out the red card. Back-up keeper Shaquille Bean was also sent off for abusive language after protesting a foul against Paget.

There was only going to be one winner after Paget went down a man, given the pressure Village applied in dangerous areas, and their first big chance to take the lead came when Knory Scott fed Jonté Smith, who fired wide on the half-volley.

Village continued to push forward and Pierre Smith lashed wide from just outside the penalty area before the end of normal time.

Scorers

Paget Lions: Xave Smith 32

North Village: Bean 54

TEAMS

Paget Lions (4-2-3-1): O Deshields 7 — Kion Knights 7, S Smith 6, J Carpenter 6, N Carpenter 5 — T Gibbons 6, K Leverock 6 (sub: T Davis, 61min 6) — Xave Smith 6, D Hart 5, Xion Smith 6 (sub: K Hypolite, 86) — A Butterfield 5 (sub: O Tucker, 61 6); Substitutes not used: R Deshields, S Bean. Booked: S Smith, Xion Smith, Xave Smith, Butterfield. Sent off: Xave Smith, S Bean.

North Village (3-4-2-1): D Bell 7 — T Williams 6, Q Outerbridge 7, J Harvey 6 — J Outerbridge 7 (sub: M Paynter 68, 6), J Chapman 5 (sub: A Dill, 46 6), S Spence 6 (sub: P Smith, 85), C Caisey 6 (sub: J Jennings, 68 6) — J Bean 7, K Scott 6 — J Smith 6 (sub: T Tucker, 85); Substitutes not used: J Hayward, Kyler Knights. Booked: Chapman.

Referee: T Simons