PHC 1 Paget 0

Kadeem Abraham scored the lone goal four minutes from time as PHC Zebras kept their title aspirations alive with victory over a stubborn Paget Lions side at PHC Stadium yesterday.

Abraham was on the end of a free kick by DeAndre Smith-Lightbourne to side-foot past Paget goalkeeper Jade Morrissey and secure a crucial three points.

Zebras remain three points off leaders Dandy Town and PHC would need to win their final game and hope Dandy Town lose on the final day, as well as Colts losing one of their final two matches to steal the league title on the final day.

After the match Zebras head coach Cecoy Robinson emphasised the importance of the win.

“The most important thing is three points,” he said. “First half was well below par and we picked up our tempo in the second half. We rode our luck a bit, that’s how football goes.

“We just need to make sure we get the points in our last game to put the pressure on Town and Colts."

Paget had the better of a largely scrappy first half and started with attacking intent as full backs Shakir Smith and Kion Knights enjoyed large spells in the opposition half.

Despite the frustrating start, Zebras fashioned the first two real opportunities of the game. First, the energetic Rayquan Woodley-Smith stole the ball off Julian Carpenter and slipped in Arnezha Astwood, but the striker smashed his powerful effort over the bar.

Then Joshua Joseph and Woodley-Smith combined on the edge of the penalty area before the latter slipped in Astwood. However, Morrissey was out quickly to smother from Astwood in the six-yard area.

Zebras continued to struggle with the aggression of the visitors, and their lack of invention and speed on the ball played into Paget's hands.

Paget captain Diaje Hart steadily grew in influence in the first half, and should have had an assist four minutes before the break. He punished Eusebio King-Mills for taking too long with the ball in a dangerous area. However, his driven cross from the right toward the penalty spot was missed by his fellow attackers and Zebras eventually cleared. A lack of conviction in the final third saw both defences win out and the first half end goalless.

Zebras slowly found their groove in the second period but it was their opponents who had the first real chance to make the breakthrough. Shakir Smith was fed into space by Hart two minutes after the restart and cut back for the run of his captain. Hart had his effort blocked by Woodley-Smith.

PHC fashioned their biggest chance to this point when a long pass by goalkeeper Quinaceo Hunt picked out Astwood, who cut back for Simeon Burrows to force Morrissey into a diving save from his curling effort.

The final half-hour was played at a blistering pace, with both sides having their best periods of quality towards the end. First, Joseph picked out Abraham with a precise cut-back ten minutes from time, but the eventual scorer smashed his effort wide from about 14 yards out.

Then Paget were nearly gifted the breakthrough when substitute Xave Smith cut inside and struck a soft effort towards goal, but Hunt nearly spilled it. He made up for his lack of judgment by smothering before the advancing Hart could bear down into the six-yard box.

Zebras finally found the telling moment four minutes from the end of normal time, with Smith-Lightbourne picking out Abraham.

The home side nearly threw away their slender lead in stoppage time but Lions captain Diaje Hart hit the post from about eight yards before Simeon Burrows eventually cleared.

Scorers

PHC Zebras: Abraham 86

TEAMS

PHC Zebras (4-2-3-1): Q Hunt 7 – D Usher 6, E King-Mills 6, D Smith-Lightbourne 7, D Dowling 6 – J Ebbin 5 (sub: J Hassell, 67min 5), K Abraham 7 – J Joseph 6, S Burrows 6, R Woodley-Smith 6 (sub: C Eve, 67 5) – A Astwood 5 (sub: J Martin 90+1). Substitutes not used: K White, Y Burgess, J Richardson.

Paget Lions (4-2-3-1): J Morrissey 7 – S Smith 6, R Deshields 7, J Carpenter 6, K Knights 6 – T Gibbons 6 (sub: R Russell, 76), A Lee 7 – Xion Smith 6, D Hart 6, N Carpenter 5 – A Butterfield 5 (sub: Xave Smith, 57 6); Substitutes not used: J Stovel, K Richardson, K Simons, T Davis, S Bean.

Referee: D Parchment (Jamaica)