PHC 7 North Village 1

Rampant Zebras were in seventh heaven after exorcising their Friendship final demons by thrashing North Village Rams in the Charity Cup.

The last time the defending champions faced the Red Army they were on the receiving end of a seven-goal mauling - the biggest ever defeat in the Friendship's history.

They may have dusted themselves off from the humiliation to lift the Premier Division title and FA Cup, but the embarrassing reverse has not sat well with the men from Warwick ever since.

And their attempts to shrug it off as a merely a bad day at the office did not fool anyone.

But on Saturday at BAA Field they set the record straight when they renewed acquaintances with their rivals and fired an ominous warning to the rest of the league. On this evidence PHC are once again the team to beat this season.

"That's definitely revenge for us," said coach Kyle Lightbourne after PHC's resounding victory. "I think that shows my players have certainly not forgotten about what happened in the Friendship final."

PHC took the lead in the 15th minute when an outswinging corner found Kevin Lambe on the edge of the box who struck a sweet right-footed volley past goalkeeper Calvin Augustus. Zebras then doubled their lead when Jahnai Raynor beat his marker before sliding the ball home as Zebras took control over a sluggish looking Rams.

But at the end of the first-half they offered Elliott Jennings' side a route back into the game when 'keeper Raymond Glasford misjudged Gregory Johnson's swerving long-distance shot.

However, just two minutes into the second period PHC increased their stranglehold when pacey winger Cecoy Robinson, who received a Bermuda Hogges call-up last term, converted from close range to make it 3-1.

By now Village looked visibly shattered in comparison to the notoriously fit Zebras players who appeared to have not even broken sweat.

Village's woes were then compounded when Vernon Tankard was dismissed for two bookable offences.

PHC made the most of their numerical advantage with Quinton Burgess rounding a defender before slipping the ball into an empty net. Defender Johnny Ball then got in on the act by breaking through the Village back-line to fire home.

Substitute Aquino Grant struck PHC's six before Keston Lewis' exquisite free-kick wrapped up the win and ensured PHC added another trophy to their already well-stocked trophy cabinet.

"I think our superior fitness really showed out there," said Lightbourne.

"That's where we won this game. We did our work on the beaches in pre-season and after the first 15 minutes I knew we would win - Village looked tired."

It's unlikely Village coach Jennings will be overly concerned by his side's performance and his opposite number Lightbourne said he believed the Rams would be a genuine threat to PHC's title defence.

"I don't think you can read too much into this performance though," said Lightbourne.

"Obviously I'm delighted but Village will be strong again as soon as they get some games under their belt."

PHC: R.Glasford, I.Barry, K.Richards, C.Dowling, J.Ball, B.Bean, C.Furbert, K.Lambe, K. Lewis, J.Raynor, C. Robinson

Subs: J.Smith, J.Almedia, C.Castle, A.Grant, Q.Burgess, M.Lambe, L.Holder

North Village: C.Augustus, D.Simons, K.Dill, D.Butterfield, N.Wilkinson, V.Minors, G.Johnson, J.Jennings, K.Dill, R.Bean, J.Peniston

Subs: M.Dill, D.Hunt, D.Blyden, P.Smith, V.Tankard

Referee: R.Cann

Red card: V.Tankard (North Village)

Yellow cards: Q.Burgess, K.Richards (PHC), K.Dill (North Village)

Man-of-the-match: Kevin Ricahrds (PHC)