PHC 1 Somerset Eagles 0

If PHC were to lose this season's Premier League championship on goal difference they will surely be haunted by the memories of matches such as yesterday's 1-0 victory over Somerset Eagles.

Despite jumping into the league lead following their game at White Hill Field, there was little for the Zebras to celebrate as noted by coaches Kenny Mills and Mark Wade - the former quite irate and his colleague subdued.

Both were disappointed with the countless easy goal-scoring opportunities that went a-begging in both halves of a match that flattered to deceive. Given PHC's dominance, the result should have been at least 5-0 but somehow their players could just not find the mark, even from point-blank range. On the defensive for much of the 90 minutes, Eagles would have to be heartened by the fact that they were only beaten by Dennis Russell's lone strike in the 24th minute.

The scorer himself was among the many culpable Zebras who miskicked, headed wide or - in some other ugly fashion - failed to make their opponents pay for a defence that looked like it was still at home resting on the couch after Sunday lunch.

Only hard-working Desmond Burgess - who twice saved the Eagles embarrassment when their over-ambitious goalie Adrian Burrows was beaten - and Marcel Dill looked like they came to play football. Unfortunately, Burgess received precious little support in defence and Dill about the same going forward.

However, as it turned out Eagles needed not have worried as Russell - who may never have an easier chance of a hat-trick - Otis Steede, Raynel Lightbourne, Michael Williams, Blenn Bean and Chris Furbert blew straightforward opportunities to enhance the scoresheet. The only thing that could have worsened PHC's nightmare was for Russell to have messed up the match-winning play.

While he completed the formalities on a ball that always seemed goal-bound it was really Steede who deserved credit. The latter made a searing run through the middle before veering right. Rounding an on-rushing Burrows successfully, he crashed the ball towards an open goal and Russell ran forward to apply the finishing caress.

Except for a gutsy diving, second-half header by Burgess that saved Eagles from going two down, there was not much else of note in a match that had fans from both camps screaming at their players.

"I'm not happy. We missed way too many chances!" declared a fuming Mills as his Zebras trudged off the field.

PHC: D.Joell, D.Wilson (C.Dowling), D.Outerbridge, S.Lewis, J.Ball, M.Williams (J.Raynor), C.Furbert, O.Steede, B.Bean, R.Lightbourne, D.Russell (K.Lambe).

Somerset Eagles: A.Burrows, A.Lambert (S.Dill), M.Hunt, D.Burgess, M.Dill, K.Simmons, M.Butterfield, S.Simmons, D.Dowling, R.Wilson, S.Burrows (L.Woods).

Booked: D.Wilson, B.Bean, C.Furbert (PHC)

Men of the Match: B.Bean (PHC); D.Burgess (Eagles).

Referee: S.Crockwell.