Dandy Town 3 St George’s 1

Dandy Town hold a one-point lead atop the Premier Division at the start of the winter break after battling to victory over a stubborn St George’s at White Hill Field yesterday.

Both sides created clear opportunities in a first half that had everything but quality in front of goal. Town had the first big chance when Kamali Davis was found in space by Enrique Swan on the left. He squared for David Jones Jr, but the striker dragged his shot tamely into the grateful arms of Troy Hall.

Town had the measure of the away side for the first 20 minutes, and created another clear chance when Swan, Riley Robinson and Jones combined in a tight space just inside the attacking third. Jones then slipped a short through ball for Davis, but the winger shot straight at Hall.

St George’s picked up their game as the remainder of the first half was played at an electric tempo. First, Leroy Lewis forced Town keeper Jahquil Hill into a reflex save after being played in by Kashe Hall. Then Jarazinho Bassett could not guide his header on target from the resulting corner.

The East End side finished the stronger toward the end of the first half, although Town striker Jones capitalised on a lapse of concentration by Jonas Schroder. However, after he rounded Hall, Matthew Moreno did really well to scamper back and clear off the line.

Zachary McGuire had another chance to make the breakthrough after he connected nicely with Kashe Hall’s lay-off on the edge of the penalty area. Town shot stopper Hill was equal to his powerful effort, tipping it onto the crossbar.

The league leaders made some tactical adjustments at haf time, introducing regular captain Tomiko Goater and Angelo Simmons for Jones and Riley Robinson. These switches paid dividends within five minutes of the restart as the two combined before Goater’s effort was blocked by Schroder.

Goater later fed Swan in space to lay off to Simmons, but the striker forced Hall to make a reflex save before pouncing on the loose ball.

Lejaun Simmons opened the scoring for Town just before the hour when he combined with Goater and Swan for Town’s most incisive move to that point, finishing into the bottom corner with precision.

Two minutes after making the breakthrough, Town crafted the second with a potent counter-attack. Eusebio Blankendal won the ball in midfield, heading into space for Nizigh Spence to drive and feed Angelo Simmons, who controlled before placing his strike past the dive of Hall at the far post.

St George’s continued with their high press and Town had enough control to play around them by this stage. However, one mishap allowed Malachi Trott to drive past a few Town players and cut inside before curling a beautiful effort into the near post past Hill, who stayed on his line.

Leroy Lewis had a glorious opportunity to complete the comeback after a loose touch by Quadir Maynard, but Edry Moore sprinted back to make the decisive block.

Twelve minutes from time, Town clinched the points when Goater was brought down about 20 yards out by McGuire. Jahkari Furbert magically whipped the free kick over the defensive wall into the near post.

Town controlled the final minutes with relative ease and Tavez Smith could have added a fourth goal but missed the target with his late effort.

Scorers

Dandy Town: L Simmons 57, A Simmons 59, Furbert 78

St George’s: Trott 66

TEAMS

Dandy Town (4-2-3-1): J Hill 7 – L Simmons 7, D Leverock 6, E Moore 6, E Blankendal 7 – N Spence 7, Q Maynard 6 – K Davis 6 (sub: T Smith, 71min), R Robinson 5 (sub: T Goater, 46 6), E Swan 7 (sub: A Bailey, 74) – D Jones 6 (sub: A Simmons, 46 6; sub: J Furbert, 71). Substitutes not used: A Harvey, M Joell. Booked: L Simmons, Leverock, Furbert.

St George’s (4-1-4-1): T Hall 7 – M Nisbett-Tankard 6, M Moreno 5, J Schroder 6 (sub: I Greaves, 83), J Bassett 6 – Z McGuire 7 – B Hall 6, K Hall 7, M Trott 7, I Gibbons 5 (sub: J Dickinson, 71) – L Lewis 6. Substitutes not used: J Dill, T Bell, M Tucker, L Evans.

Referee: C Culley (Barbados)