PHC 2 Devonshire Colts 0

Haile Eve and Enrique Russell scored either side of half-time to pull PHC Zebras into a four-way tie on points at the top of the Premier Division by beating Devonshire Colts on Saturday night.

After their win, PHC climbed to second in the table, level on 12 points with North Village, the vanquished Colts and X-Roads as the title race starts to take shape.

But it was Colts who started brightly in the brisk conditions, creating their first chance inside five minutes when the league’s top scorer Senoj Mitchell pinched the ball off Aaron Nelson in midfield. He played it to Keino Burch on the right, who pulled back for Chemarl Henry. The Colts captain missed his kick but the loose ball fell to Mateo Isaac, who scuffed his effort into the grateful arms of PHC keeper Quinaceo Hunt.

PHC then had the next good opportunity when captain Daren Usher made a marauding run into the penalty area, but Colts defender Jorj Dublin was quick to read the danger before Usher’s cutback reached target Aaron Nelson.

Colts, missing a few key players such as goalkeeper Jaden Mills-Furbert and versatile player Jahkeylo Burgess to injury, continued to probe as PHC were prepared to wait for their moments on the counter.

Kadeem Abraham should have had the breakthrough for PHC midway through the first half. He was played through by false nine Jaden Ebbin but could not keep his shot down from about 14 yards out.

PHC opened the scoring on the half-hour when De-Aun Lodge swung in a free kick from the left and Haile Eve planted a glancing header beyond motionless stand-in goalkeeper Treshun Smith.

Colts became too predictable after conceding that opening goal and PHC used that chance to push their defensive line higher for the remainder of the first half, catching dangerous wide players Mitchell and Henry offside on a few occasions.

The remainder of the game was largely a physical battle for territory, although both sides maintained the intent to score goals. Holding midfielder Zuhri Burgess had the opportunity to deliver a dangerous cross from the right for Colts, after Henry showed good awareness to play back to him in space. However, Burgess totally miscued this cross.

A combination of poor decision-making in the final third and strong PHC defensive performances ensured Colts did not penetrate, with Hunt bringing confidence to the defence. Colts substitute Jomei Bean-Lindo had a crack from distance, but his effort razed the top of the netting.

Zebras went down to ten men after King-Mills was given his marching orders with an aggressive challenge on Henry in the left channel. However, they earned a penalty after substitute Enrique Russell was taken down by Dublin in the box. He stepped up and sent reserve keeper Smith the wrong way to give Zebras a two-goal cushion.

Keino Burch was sent off for Colts in the final minutes for a second bookable offence, arguing with referee Anthony Francis in the last five minutes of normal time.

Zebras managed the game with relative comfort, despite ten minutes of stoppage time largely as a result of the game’s physical nature with referee Anthony Francis dishing out eight bookings.

Scorers

PHC Zebras: H Eve 30; Russell pen 80

TEAMS

PHC Zebras (4-2-3-1): Q Hunt 6 – D Usher 6, E King-Mills 4, J Bather 6, A Astwood 5 – D Lodge 5 (sub: E Russell, 57min 7), A Nelson 6 (sub: N Griffith, 82) – K Abraham 5, S Burrows 6 (sub: K Bean, 72), H Eve 7 (sub: C Eve, 72) – J Ebbin 5 (sub: A Burgess, 57 5); Substitutes not used: J Richardson, K White. Booked: Abraham, Hunt, King-Mills, Bean, Russell. Sent off: King-Mills.

Devonshire Colts (4-2-3-1): T Smith 6 – M Isaac 6 (sub: S Burgess, 64 5), J Dublin 6, D Jackson 5, S Robinson 6 (sub: J Paynter, 64 6) – J Samuels 6, Z Burgess 6 (sub: S Blair-Paynter, 85) – K Burch 4, C Henry 5, S Mitchell 5 – T Eve 6 (sub: J Bean-Lindo, 71); Substitutes not used: A Hart, A Van Duyne, F Lema. Booked: Burch. Sent off: Burch.

Referee: A Francis