Paget 0 PHC 2

Enrique Russell scored both goals as PHC ended the day top of the Premier Division after beating Paget in their first home game at White Hill Field.

PHC are top on goal difference from Devonshire Colts after their shutout victory but can be usurped at the top by Dandy Town and North Village if those sides win their games on Sunday.

After deciding to switch their home venue from Southampton Oval to White Hill Field after an attempted assault on one of their players a couple of weeks ago, Paget made a strong start on their new pitch, testing the PHC defence on a number of occasions.

Michael Tyler Emery was a constant threat on the right wing and the catalyst for their best opportunity. The former Somerset Eagles attacker was found in a dangerous area by full back Kyjah Simons, and cut a neat pass back to Diaje Hart, but the Paget captain dragged his effort wide.

PHC were largely restricted to half chances despite Haile and Chance Eve making positive runs into the attacking third. Paget held their defensive shape really well for the majority of the first period and PHC were often forced to play wide or go direct to striker Russell.

Zebras lacked tempo in their passing, which allowed Paget to creep their defensive line further forward as the first half wore on and dictate the play from the opposition half.

PHC had to alter the momentum of the match at half time. Jayden Ebbin was introduced for Aaron Nelson to bring some more dynamism into the midfield and they started to create more clear chances within ten minutes of the restart.

Young Rayquan Woodley-Smith, who came on for the injured Naeem Griffith in the 53rd minute, also made an instant impact with his first meaningful action leading to PHC’s first big chance.

He squared for Jayden Ebbin to cut back to Enrique Russell, but the striker rushed his effort and smashed it high. PHC finally got the breakthrough their period of dominance deserved midway through the second half and Woodley-Smith again played a key role.

He played a beautiful ball for Haile Eve, who swung a beautiful cross into the six-yard box and Russell improvised well to chest into the far corner. Paget got a second wind after going behind and should have seized momentum after Haile Eve was sent off for a second bookable offence on 77 minutes. The winger used abusive language towards assistant referee Mateo Donawa, with PHC forced to manage the final 15 minutes a man light.

Spaces opened up and Paget almost capitalised five minutes from time. Kyler Knights did well to find Shakir Smith on the right and his cross nearly found substitute Antinori Butterfield in the six-yard box.

Butterfield was then pushed in the back by PHC’s De-Andre Smith-Lightbourne and Barbadian referee Cleon Culley pointed to the spot.

Paget captain Hart had his penalty saved by PHC keeper Quinaceo Hunt and Omari Tucker fired the rebound wide. PHC punished Paget for that error in added time, with Kadeem Abraham and Russell exchanging passes before the latter chipped Paget keeper Omari Deshields to secure the victory.

Scorers

PHC: Russell 65, 90+3

TEAMS

Paget (4-2-3-1): O Deshields 6 ― K Simons 6 (sub: A Butterfield, 75min), D Rawlins 6, S Lambert 5 (sub: O Tucker, 75), K Knights 5 ― A Lee 5, R Russell 6 ― N Carpenter 5, D Hart 4, M Tyler Emery 5 (sub: T Davis, 66 5) ― S Smith 6. Substitutes not used: J Morrissey, M Basden, S Bean. Booked: Smith, Russell.

PHC (4-2-3-1): Q Hunt 6 ― D Usher 5, J Bather 6, N Griffith 5 (sub: R Woodley-Smith, 53 7), E King-Mills 6 ― A Nelson 5 (sub: J Ebbin, 46 6), K Abraham 6 ― H Eve 5, S Burrows 5, C Eve 5 (sub: D Smith-Lightbourne, 71) ― E Russell 7. Substitutes not used: K Bean, J Hassell, K White, O Swenson. Booked: Burrows, H Eve, Russell, Ebbin. Sent off: H Eve.

Referee: C Culley (Barbados)