Young Men’s Social Club 0 PHC 2

PHC stayed top of the league despite struggling to victory against Young Men’s Social Club at Police Field on Sunday.

Zebras remain two points clear of Devonshire Colts at the summit of the Premier Division after goals by Enrique Russell and Diondre Dowling secured three points but they have now played two games more than their title rivals.

Roderick Lewis formed part of the PHC coaching staff for this match in the absence of regular head coach Cecoy Robinson, who is away overseeing the under-20 national team in Costa Rica, and was pleased with his side’s effort.

“We had to match their intensity and we did so for large portions of the game,” Lewis said. “But the performance overall wasn’t great. We want to win the league and cup but the players need to put in the hard work.”

PHC had most of the possession in an even first half and they had the first decent opening at goal within seconds. Social Club failed to clear a throw in their final third and Russell found Joshua Joseph in the six-yard area, but the winger headed straight at Social Club goalkeeper Clay Darrell.

Social Club created their first big chance of the game when Malique Wilson dipped a curling effort towards the far corner, but PHC goalkeeper Quinaceo Hunt tipped it over the crossbar.

Zebras started to pick up their speed after that early scare and nearly got the breakthrough midway through the half. Rayquan Woodley-Smith made a poor connection from a long pass by Kadeem Abraham and lashed his effort wide on the half-volley.

Continuing to probe for the opening goal, PHC should have found it when Abraham clipped a free kick into Simeon Burrows, but the former Somerset Trojans forward headed straight at Darrell.

PHC found the breakthrough in the 35th minute. Joseph clipped a corner into the penalty area from the right, which Social Club failed to properly clear. Dowling stepped onto the ball and placed his finish into the far corner, leaving Darrell to watch and admire his technique.

The home side could have equalised five minutes before the break when Teron Butterfield flicked forward for Josh Hardtman, whose angled effort was thwarted by a reflex save by Hunt.

PHC came out after the restart with renewed aggression. Woodley-Smith created another great chance four minutes into the second half, which Enrique Russell nearly capitalised on. However, Social defender Kimshun Smith made a vital block and the home side were able to clear.

The title contenders doubled their lead five minutes into the second half when Russell picked up space in the penalty area from a throw on the right and finished low to the far post after Angelo Matthews missed his header.

Social Club should have got back into the game just after the hour but Zeiko Lewis failed to direct his effort on target after being found neatly by Z'Chai Jennings-Barnett.

Zebras could have put the game to bed minutes later but Russell finished wide after Woodley-Smith beat the challenge of Kimshun Smith and squared to the striker.

SCORERS

PHC Zebras: Dowling 35, Russell 50

TEAMS

Young Men’s Social Club (4-2-3-1): C Darrell 7 — K Smith 6, A Simons 6, Z Jennings-Barnett 6, T Butterfield 6 — R Parris 7, A Matthews 5 — M Wilson 5 (sub: A Samuels, 67min 5), Z Lewis 6, B Swan Jr 5 (sub: K Butterfield, 78) — J Hardtman 6 (sub: E Mensah, 45 5). Booked: Jennings-Barnett, Smith.

PHC Zebras (4-4-2): Q Hunt 7 — D Usher 6, S Lewis 7, D Smith-Lightbourne 6, D Dowling 7 — H Eve 6 (sub: J Hassell, 67 5), K Abraham 6, S Burrows 6 (sub: J Ebbin, 80), J Joseph 6 — R Woodley-Smith 7 (sub: A Burgess, 80), E Russell 7. Substitutes not used: D Lodge, C Eve, J Richardson, E King-Mills. Booked: Dowling.

Referee: J Springer (Barbados)