Somerset Trojans 1 PHC Zebras 4

PHC advanced to the quarter-finals of the FA Challenge Cup with a resounding victory over First Division promotion chasers Somerset Trojans at Somerset Cricket Club yesterday.

PHC were led by coach Kyle Lightbourne as head coach Cecoy Robinson was suspended after being sent off last week and the stand-in boss was delighted with his side’s victory.

“We did the job in the first half but credit to Somerset for fighting to the end,” Lightbourne said. “We matched their energy in the first half and deservedly scored the goals. We want to win a trophy this season, so let’s see who we get in the draw.”

PHC dominated the first half and opened the scoring inside five minutes from a horrible goalkeeping mistake.

Trojans keeper Kyjuan Symonds took too long to make a decision with the ball on the ground around the penalty spot and Rayquan Woodley-Smith stole the ball and finished into an empty net.

The home side could not live with PHC's quick passing on the ball and intensity off it throughout the first period and the Premier Division title challengers doubled their lead from a neat move between their attackers. Quick passing between Enrique Russell, former Trojan Simeon Burrows and Woodley-Smith culminated with the latter having a low shot saved by Symonds.

Trojans were never able to play through the Zebras press, and any attempted direct pass to striker Leo Burgess or wide players Keyni Mills and Jaden Ratteray-Smith was often cut out by the PHC defence. This became a pattern for the majority of the first period and led to the away side’s third goal on 20 minutes. De-Aun Lodge won the ball in midfield and played in Russell, who turned past Taj-Rae Outerbridge and fired a low effort past Zebras back-up goalkeeper Shaquille Trott.

PHC continued to dictate as Trojans failed to string passes together in midfield and their next chance came when Joshua Joseph stole the ball in midfield and drove into space before cutting back to Russell, who side footed over the bar under pressure from Trojans defender Eijaz Shakir.

PHC would make it four 12 minutes from time, when Lodge fed Kadeem Abraham into the penalty area and he picked out Russell to turn and finish low past Symonds.

Somerset tried to adjust their line of pressure and they nearly pulled one back right before the break. Outerbridge powered a header towards goal from a corner, but it was initially saved by before Smith hit the rebound over the bar.

Trojans massively improved in the second half and found a lifeline just after the hour. Leo Burgess was tripped by Trott after a free kick by Kymani McNeil about 25 yards out. Burgess picked himself up and confidently scored the resulting penalty.

A scuffle broke out near the touchline midway through the second half, but no one was injured. Trojans had the best chance of the second half after their goal, with substitute Jeze Butterfield firing wide from just outside the penalty area.

GOALS

Somerset: Burgess pen 61

PHC: Woodley-Smith 4; Abraham 10; Russell 20, 32

TEAMS

Somerset Trojans (4-2-3-1): K Symonds 5 ― J Shields 5, T Outerbridge 6, E Shakir 6, M Tear-DeLeon 5 ― J Greaves 5, Kymani McNeil 6 (sub: J Butterfield, 70min; sub: M Robinson 90+2) ― Kameron McNeil 5 (sub: S Tatem, 87), J Ratteray-Smith 5, K Mills 6 ― L Burgess 6. Substitutes not used: J Simmons, D Johnson, M Joell, C Durham. Booked: Outerbridge, Butterfield.

PHC Zebras (4-2-3-1): S Trott 6 ― D Usher 7, J Bather 6, D Smith-Lightbourne 6 (sub: E King-Mills, 70), K Abraham 7 ― D Lodge 6, J Hassell 6 (sub: Y Burgess, 80) ― R Woodley-Smith 7 (sub: A Burgess, 77), S Burrows 6 (sub: J Richardson, 70), J Joseph 6 ― E Russell 7 (sub: D Wainwright 70). Substitutes not used: C Eve, K Stovell. Booked: Burrows, Trott.

Referee: D Jackson