Young Men’s Social Club 0 North Village 2

First-half goals from Jonté Smith and Amir Dill were enough for defending champions North Village to see off a gritty Young Men’s Social Club at Police Field on Sunday.

The home side started well and were the first team to create a clear chance, with the returning Zeiko Lewis beating Village captain Seke Spence before playing in Clay Darrell, who had his shot from just inside the penalty area blocked by Jalen Harvey.

The two teams went blow for blow and Village could have opened the scoring themselves when former Devonshire Cougars man Che-Kai Caisey got past Kimshun Smith before cutting a ball into the danger area. Village striker Smith connected with the cross but shot straight at Social Club goal keeper Ryan Evans.

A few minutes later Village thought they had been awarded a penalty after referee Cleon Culley, from Barbados, judged a challenge by Ryan Parris on Dill to be illegal. However, after consulting with assistant referee Clinton Hayward, Culley reversed his decision and gave a corner instead.

Midway through the first half Village opened the scoring when Social Club gave them too much space in midfield. That allowed Khimo Harrison to thread a lovely pass through to Dill, who controlled inside the penalty area before finishing with composure underneath Evans.

Village tried to press home their advantage minutes later when Knory Scott controlled a ball from Harrison and fed another through ball to Dill. He cut inside on to his stronger left foot and struck towards the near post, but Evans was equal to it.

Social Club should have equalised nine minutes before half time when Zeiko Lewis slipped in Josh Hardtman. He drove into the penalty area and struck towards goal, but goalkeeper Pierre Smith, deputising for the injured Detre Bell, made a strong reflex save.

Moments later Social Club had another great chance to draw level. Parris played a smart ball to Mical Hardtman, who beat Caisey before squaring to Kimshun Smith inside the penalty area. However, the full back failed to make the most of a glorious chance, tamely side-footing straight into the grateful arms of Pierre Smith.

Village winger Jordan Outerbridge was a constant threat to the Social Club defence and his impact gave the away side some breathing space five minutes before half time. Outerbridge turned Andrew Samuels inside out before the Social defender clipped him with a tough challenge inside the penalty area. The reliable Jonté Smith slotted the resulting penalty home.

Social Club had their final attacking moment of the first half when Clay Darrell drove a pass on the ground across the pitch to Lewis, who laid off for Mical Hardtman. However, the younger Hardtman brother overhit his return ball and Pierre Smith allowed it to harmlessly run out of play.

Scott could have ended the match as a contest on the stroke of half time with a free kick on the left edge of the penalty area. However, Evans showed good awareness to claim the floated effort at his near post.

Village replaced Jonté Smith with Tah-Ki Tucker at half time.

Lewis nearly pulled a goal back for Social Club straight from a corner four minutes after the restart, but the ball grazed the crossbar with Pierre Smith left stranded. The home side pushed really hard for the next ten minutes and fashioned two great chances to halve the deficit.

First, Lewis curled a lovely pass into Kimshun Smith, who skied his effort from close range. Then Lewis almost made the most of a lucky ricochet when duelling with Tahmi Williams, curling a dipping effort a few yards wide of the far post.

Both goalkeepers made a few fantastic saves in a fast-paced second period, with Village holding on for a valuable three points that keeps them in touch with their fellow title contenders.

Scorers

North Village: Dill 25, J Smith 40 pen

TEAMS

Young Men’s Social Club (4-2-3-1): R Evans 7 — K Smith 6 (sub: T Butterfield, 70min 6), A Samuels 6, A Simons 5, J Smith 6 — A Matthews 5 (sub: G Butterfield, 63 5), R Parris 6 — M Hardtman 6 (sub: A Cannonier, 63 6), Z Lewis 7, C Darrell 5 (sub: B Swan Jr, 70 5) — J Hardtman 5. Substitutes not used: E Mensah. Booked: J Smith, Matthews, Darrell, Evans.

North Village (4-2-3-1): P Smith 7 — C Caisey 6 (sub: T Outerbridge, 87), K Harrison 6, J Harvey 6, K Knights 6 — T Williams 6 (sub: I Simmons, 80), S Spence 6 — J Outerbridge 7 (sub: J Hayward, 87), A Dill 8, K Scott 6 — J Smith 7 (sub: T Tucker, 46 5). Substitutes not used: D Bell. Booked: Caisey, Scott.

Referee: C Culley (Barbados)