North Village 1 Somerset Trojans 1

North Village coach Cal “Patches” Dill lashed out at the officiating after his team was held to a draw against ten-man Somerset Trojans in a heated and physical Premier Division contest at Bernard Park last night.

Dill was left fuming over several decisions made by referee Dwight Jackson, including an appeal for a penalty that fell on deaf ears, and vented his frustrations after the final whistle.

“I am going to speak about the referee and they can do what they want,” he said.

“Dwight Jackson should not ref no more football games. He is bad and it has happened to us twice with him.”

Village squandered a plethora of chances to put the game beyond reach which ultimately came back to haunt them as Trojans came from a goal down to secure a precious point away from home.

“I thought we dominated the game again like we did against Dandy Town last week. But if you don’t put away chances you keep allowing the opponent in the game,” Dill said.

Village took the lead in the eighth minute after forward Jai Bean pounced on poor defending before Trojans striker Justin Donawa equalised right on the hour.

Village gained a numerical advantage in the 78th minute when Trojans substitute Kymani McNeil was shown straight red for violent conduct just three minutes after coming off the bench.

Trojans goalkeeper Kyjuan Symonds produced a string of excellent saves to keep his team in the match, while Village were also denied twice by the woodwork.

The visitors also lost defender Zico Saltus Seymour to a suspected hamstring injury, while substitute Dante Taylor suffered a cut after being kicked in the head right on the final whistle.

Trojans captain Jadan Ratteray Smith, who also played a pivotal role in his team’s hard fought draw, was happy to come away with a share of the spoils.

“It’s a big point going against a team that’s experienced and a team that’s looked at as a title favourite,” he said.

“To come here and get a point away from home, especially in the conditions, I think we made the most of the game by working hard [after] obviously going behind.

“I think we had a good response. We worked hard throughout the game and it’s good to come away with a point.”

As for the sending off of team-mate McNeil, the midfielder added: “Sometimes we got to control our emotions, it made it harder than it actually was.

“It was already difficult as it was. But everyone rallied still and coming away with a point is massive.”

Village went straight for Trojans’ jugular from the opening whistle and made the breakthrough after Bean intercepted a poor back pass, rounded Symonds and slotted into an empty net.

The hosts pinned Trojans in their own half for most of the first half as they piled on the pressure in search of more goals.

Symonds was the busiest player on the pitch as he was repeatedly called into action.

Village’s Owen Botelho and Jordan Outerbridge had efforts cleared off the line, while Kashe Hall and Outerbridge hit the woodwork.

Trojans had a good spell near the end of the half, with Donawa firing just wide after running onto Michari Tear — Deleon’s pass over the top of the defence, while captain Ratteray Smith had a volley turned around the post by Village counterpart Detre Bell.

Village squandered another good opportunity early in the second half after forward Knory Devon Scott dragged wide after being sent in the clear by Hall’s delightful pass, while Bean brought off another fine save from Symonds.

Trojans were a much better side after the break and found themselves back on even terms through a neat finish from Donawa. Tear-Deleon played another delightful ball over the top of the defence, which Donawa stroked into the far bottom corner from a tight angle.

Village were up in arms moments later when referee Jackson ignored their confident appeals for a penalty after Bean went down in the area under a challenge from Trojans defender Jaz Ratteray Smith.

Trojans were reduced to ten men when McNeil lost his cool just minutes after entering the fray, while team-mate Saltus Seymour limped of clutching his right hamstring.

Both teams continued creating chances in search of a winner but ultimately had to be content with a draw.

Scorers

North Village: Bean, 8

Somerset Trojans: Donawa, 60

TEAMS

North Village: D Bell — J Bean, K Hall, K Devon Scott, O Botelho, S Spence, J Outerbridge, C Csisey, zj Harvey, J Smith Deshields, L Steede. Substitutes: J Hayward, K Cann, T Tucker, M Paynter, T Manders Z Hendrickson, K Harrison

Somerset Trojans: K Symonds, Jaden Ratteray Smith, K McNeil, J Donawa, K Mills, M Tear Deleon, J Shields, Jaz Ratteray Smith, Z Saltus Seymour, M Nisbett Tankard, C Durham. Sent off: Kymani McNeil. Substitutes: D Taylor, V Wall Brown, J Simmons, M Joell, K Mallory, Kymani McNeil, J Corday, D Swan

Referee: D Jackson