Young Men’s Social Club 2 St George’s Colts 3

St George’s captain Cameron Neal headed home a late winner to sink a determined Young Men’s Social Club and get their season off to a winning start.

Both sides would end the contest a man light with Emmanuel Mensah shown a second yellow card for the home team midway through the second half for a mistimed challenge on Nasaje Anderson. St George’s substitute Jelani Carlington was sent off two minutes from time for a similar tackle on Angelo Matthews.

After the game, match winner Neal noted the camaraderie within the St George’s team despite them losing a host of players in the summer transfer window.

“This team has a sense of community, similar to the Town of St George,” Neal; said.

“We came together, despite the adversity, and got the points. This is what matters most and we will train and play every game as if it is our last.”

Neither side truly took the initiative in a scrappy first half, although both teams fashioned the odd opportunity.

Mensah did well to combine with Social midfielder Jinairo Johnson before the latter had an effort saved by St George’s head coach Mishael Paynter, who played in goal for the east end side.

Both Neal and Jarazinho Bassett had efforts blocked in a dominant spell of St George’s pressure midway through the first half but it was Social Club who found the breakthrough just before half time when Zeiko Lewis whipped in a perfect free kick just before half time, which Johnson converted beautifully on the volley at the back post.

St George’s pushed hard for the equaliser thereafter, with Jahron Dickinson and Neal having further efforts from the edge of the penalty area charged down by the home side’s back line.

Carlington had been introduced for Cavon Ottley just before Mensah was sent off for the challenge on Anderson and added attacking dynamism. The away side would finally get the equaliser their endeavours deserved when Bassett’s low delivery from the right was handled clumsily by Social Club defender Brighton Swan Jr.

Dickinson tried to place the resulting spot-kick, but Smith made a reflex save. However, the loose ball fell to an alert Bassett, who whipped his effort off the post and past a motionless Chiquon Smith.

The period from that sending off to the final whistle had the tempo of a basketball match, although both teams had a mistake in them given the scorching heat.

Social Club, who have relished periods of adversity in the past few seasons, came together and regained the lead from probably their best move. Malique Wilson played infield to Johnson, who waited for options before clipping into creative chief Lewis, who was unmarked in the penalty area.

His initial effort was fumbled into the path of younger Wilson twin Alique, who tapped in from close range.

Travelling St George’s took advantage of a very passive approach by their hosts in the final 20 minutes as they attempted to absorb pressure and clinch the points. Carlington held his own creatively by playing forward to Bassett, who beat the Social Club offside trap to chip Smith.

Four minutes from time, St George’s took the lead for the first time. A period of pressure finally ended in a corner from the right side and Jahron Dickinson played it into the perfect area for captain Neal to climb through a crowd and power home past an unsighted Smith.

Carlington himself would be issued his marching orders just before the end after a poorly judged challenge in their defensive third on Angelo Matthews. However, the visitors maintained concentration to hold on for the vital opening victory.

Scorers

Young Men’s Social Club: Johnson 45+1, A Wilson 66

St George’s: Bassett 61, 81; Neal 86

TEAMS

Young Men’s Social Club: C Smith, Jah-Nhai Smith, K Singh, J Hylton, K Smith, A Matthews, J Johnson, M Wilson, Z Lewis, B Swan, E Mensah. Substitutes: Q Simmons, A Wilson. Sent off: Mensah.

St George’s: M Paynter, C Neal, C Ottley, R Smith, J Dickinson, N Anderson, J Bassett, R Young, J Darrell, E Signor Jr, D Signor. Substitutes: Jah-Shon Smith, D Lodge, I Greaves, J Carlington, J Brangman. Sent off: Carlington.

Referee: D Jackson