North Village 2 St George’s 1

North Village Rams advanced into the semi-finals of the Friendship Trophy with a hard fought win over St George’s on Saturday night.

Substitute Jaizel Smith-DeShields was on the field for only five minutes before he was in the right place at the right time to sidefoot home from six yards out after Manoj Paynter’s square pass found him unmarked in the middle of the park.

The match started at a quick pace with St George’s having the first threatening attack. Malachi Trott’s free kick was met with a cheeky back-heel by Jarazinho Basset, which Village goalkeeper Detre Bell picked up late before diving on top of the ball.

At the other end Jonté Smith laid a pass into the path of Knory Scott but he would slash wide from a good position. Minutes later, Scott redeemed himself as he capitalised on defender Maquel Nisbett-Tankard’s slip to pick his spot before blasting past St George’s goalkeeper Tahj Bell, who had no chance from the power of the shot.

St George’s pressed for an equaliser but captain Kashe Hall’s low shot rolled across the goalmouth untouched.

Brothers Blaiz and Kashe Hall then advanced the ball with some close and skilful passing before Trott placed the final touch wide of goal.

St George’s persistence paid off and they would level the score just before half time. Basset met Trott’s inswinging corner with a glancing header, leaving Village goalkeeper Bell frozen as it sailed into the back of the net.

Play would see-saw back and forth in the second half with both teams searching for a winner. Village thought they had scored when Jordan Outerbridge converted a cross at the back post but celebrations were short lived as the goal was ruled out for offside.

Village got the all-important winner after coach Calvin ‘Patches’ Dill’s timely introduction of Smith-DeShields, who within five minutes scored the decisive goal to send his team into the semi-finals.

Liam Evans had one last chance for St. George’s to level the match but his long-range effort was easily pulled in by an alert Bell.

Scorers:

North Village: Scott 22, J Smith-DeShields 73

St George’s: Basset 37

Teams

North Village (4-2-3-1): D Bell 6 ― C Caisey 5 (sub: M Paynter, 67 6), Q Outerbridge 5 J Harvey 6, K Knights 6 ― T Williams 6, S Spence 5 (sub: L Steede, 46 5) ― A Deshields 5 (sub: J Smith-DeShields, 68 7), K Scott 7, J Outerbridge 5 ― J Smith 6. Substitutes not used: J Hayward, A Brangman-Johnson, Simmons, P Smith. Booked: Caisey, J Outerbridge, Williams.

St. George’s (4-2-3-1): T Bell 6 ― M Nisbett-Paynter 5, N Paynter 6, M Moreno 6, R Phipps 5 ― L Evans 6, R Soutter 6 ― B Hall 6, K Hall 6, M Trott 6 ― J Basset 6 (sub: I Gibbons, 60 5; sub: L Lewis 86). Substitutes not used: M Simmons, J Dill, I Greaves, T Hall. Booked: Phipps, Basset, Moreno, Nisbett-Paynter, K Hall.

Referee: T Simons