North Village 3 X-Roads 1

North Village Rams scored three unanswered goals to secure an emphatic come-from-behind 3-1 victory over a spirited X-Roads Warriors at Bernard Park on Sunday.

A brace from Knory Scott and a goal from Tah-Ki Tucker cancelled out Donovan Thompson’s opening goal in a match that saw X-Roads coach Farid El Karfa sent off for using foul and abusive language to referee Daneon Parchment in the 74th minute.

Village coach Calvin “Patches” Dill Jr was happy to see his game plan executed to secure the three points.

“We knew what type of game it was going to be because X-Roads always fight to the end,” Dill said. “Being a goal down probably woke us up a bit. We had a good half-time talk and then scored two early goals in the second half to secure the points.”

Thompson had the first real chance of the match when he ran onto a through ball but slammed into the side netting from an angle.

At the other end, Che’ Kai Caisey outpaced X-Roads’ goalkeeper Kamran Harvey to a bouncing through ball but the striker would lob wide.

X-Roads received a setback when they lost inspirational player Daren Usher to an injury -and he was replaced by Tyman Daniels just after the half-hour mark.

Moments later, Daniels would set up the opening goal with nearly his first touch. His inch-perfect diagonal cross to the back post was met by a running Thompson, who placed a thunderous header beyond Bell without breaking stride.

The X-Roads lead did not last long as a defensive mix-up between Christian Smith and goalkeeper Harvey allowed Scott in before Harvey pulled him down from behind to give referee Parchment an easy penalty call. Scott dusted himself off before planting his spot kick into the bottom right corner to bring the scores level at the half.

After a stern half-time talk, Village picked up the tempo from the restart. Scott produced some fancy footwork before playing a give and go with Owen Botelho but his shot just grazed the crossbar and went over. Harvey pulled off a spectacular full-length dive to push Seke Spence’s goalbound effort around the post to keep his team in the match.

Village’s persistence finally paid off when the ball was knocked wide to substitute Manoj Paynter, whose one-touch cross was met with a firm side foot by the onrushing Tucker to give Village the lead.

Village then sealed the deal four minutes later from a quick break. After winning possession in defence, the ball was knocked forward to Scott, who held off his marker and dribbled before slotting under the advancing Harvey from an angle.

X-Roads nearly pulled one back but Bell pulled in Daniel’s sizzling 20-yard free kick.

Things went from bad to worse for X-Roads in the 74th minute when X-Roads coach El Karfa was ejected for disputing a penalty appeal after substitute Cardel Henry went down in the box.

Later, Henry forced Bell to push his curling inswinging cross away for a corner as the spirited Warriors never gave up.

In the dying stages of the match, Tre Ming nearly embarrassed Harvey when his long range chip found the goalkeeper in no-man’s-land but Harvey back-pedalled to swipe the goalbound effort away from his net just as the ball was about to cross the goalline.

Goals

North Village: Scott 42, 63, Tucker 59

X-Roads: Thompson 38

Teams:

North Village: D Bell, J Harvey, L Steede, J Smith-DeShields, K Harrison, J Chapman, O Botelho, Z Dill, C Caisey, K Scott, R Coddington. Substitutes: M Paynter, T Tucker, S Spence, T Manders, K Knights, Z Hendrickson.

X-Roads: K Harvey, C Smith, D Usher, J Richardson, S Harvey, K Douglas, J Bean, C Booth, D Thompson, K Brangman, P Simons. Substitutes: C Henry, A Darrell, K Richardson, T Dill, R Simmons, T Daniel, C Binnie. Sent off: El Karfa (Coach).

Referee: D Parchment (Jamaica)