Devonshire Colts 5 Young Men’s Social Club 1

Striker Sage Blair-Paynter fired in a first-half hat-trick on his first league start as Devonshire Colts returned to winning ways over a defiant Young Men’s Social Club at Police Field yesterday.

The home team came out of the blocks quickly and opened the scoring within three minutes, when Chemarl Henry dribbled past Social defender Kristian Singh before squaring for Blair-Paynter to tap in from close range.

However, Colts lacked conviction in the final third for the majority of the first period, and allowed Social Club to sit in a shape as a result of slow tempo in possession. The orange and black got complacent and allowed their depleted visitors to sit in a solid mid-block, much to the frustration of demanding coach Ray Jones.

They only penetrated on the odd occasion for the next 25 minutes or so after opening the scoring, and created a big chance where Zuhri Burgess, Blair-Paynter, Rahzir Jones and Senoj Mitchell were involved, before the latter had a shot blocked for a corner. Jones attempted to fashion another opening moments later, but after drifting inside from a free kick he was smothered by the compact Social Club shape.

Right on the half-hour, Rahzir Jones clipped in a corner and the unmarked Blair-Paynter missed his header from point-blank range, but he would eventually rectify that miss six minutes later. Zuhri Burgess drove a pass in from the right, and he controlled before firing into the near post via a deflection by Social defender Tirrell Woodley.

Blair-Paynter completed his hat-trick right on the stroke of half time when Mitchell drove to the right end line past Social Club left-back Brighton Swan, and pulled back for the confident striker to curl into the far corner.

Devonshire Colts started the second half with much better intent, but continued to struggle with their final third conviction, with Mitchell and Blair-Paynter both having efforts blocked in the early minutes of the second period.

Right on the hour, Henry had his second assist of the game as Social Club tried to push their defensive line up more consistently, feeding Mitchell in acres of space on the right side to control and finish past Smith after another deflection, this time by Anelke McFarlane.

Social Club had their first real chance midway through the second half, with Kristian Singh getting a glancing head on a corner from the right, but failing to direct it on target.

Colts retained full control of the game thereafter, and forced the Social defence into numerous desperate blocks, although they did have the odd foray forward themselves with no real threat.

The Bluebirds would find a goal on 78 minutes when a long ball by Angelo Matthews was won by Jah-Nai Smith over the challenge of Shane Robinson, before he squared for captain Kimshun Smith to bundle across the line.

Colts wrapped up the scoring two minutes from time, when Social Club failed to adequately mark from a corner and allowed substitute Elisha Darrell to stab home from close range.

SCORERS

Devonshire Colts: Blair-Paynter 3, 36, 45, Mitchell 60, Darrell 89

Young Men’s Social Club: K Smith 78

TEAMS

Devonshire Colts: J Mills-Furbert, S Blair-Paynter, S Burgess, Z Burgess, J Dublin, J Greaves, C Henry, D Jackson, R Jones, S Mitchell, S Robinson. Substitutes: K Burch, E Darrell, H Eve, J Saunders, J Samuels, C Thompson, R Whitter.

Young Men’s Social Club: C Smith, J Hylton, A Matthews, E Mensah, K Singh, J Smith, K Smith, B Swan, M Wilson, T Woodley, A McFarlane. Substitutes: A Wilson.

Referee: M Wyer.