North Village 0 PHC 3

It may take a village to raise a child but what does it take to get North Village from playing like children?

For the second successive week, the Rams failed to impress at home as they were slammed 3-0 by PHC in Premier Division football.

A stellar Omar Shakir hat-trick stunned a sub-par Village into submission and left the latter's fans pondering if, and when, the days of dazzling soccer would return to Bernard Park. Last Sunday, the Rams scratched out an ugly 1-0 win in hosting Boulevard who failed to capitalise on Village's errors but yesterday there was no mercy from the visiting Zebras.

Focused and clinical in their mission, Mark Wade's men completely outplayed their opponents and really should have won by a broader margin given their plentiful assaults on goal.

That said, Village - had they shown up in spirit and not just in body - could have truly made a contest of it as they too had their moments. However, after watching at least two shots rejected by the left goalpost and crossbar, they must have concluded it was not to be their afternoon.

For Shakir, on the other hand, it was nothing but net almost every time he touched the ball.

In the 13th minute, the tough-looking marksman was fed in traffic by Michael Williams around the edge of the area. Exhibiting good control and powering ahead of Village's defenders, he smashed the ball past Adrian Burrows' right hand.

Before the Rams could blink, the scorer could have doubled his and the team's tally as a long ball found him a step ahead of Kofi Dill and Randy Spence. The latter must have sighed with relief as Shakir, going one-on-one with Burrows, hit a poor effort which Village's custodian went to the turf to gather.

Meanwhile, cousins Kevin and Jemieko Jennings were giving Village supporters some hope with sparks of promising play that brought Zebras ‘keeper Ramon Glasford into action. Just before Shakir pounced a second time, Jemieko rattled the left post with a hard, right-footed drive from about 15 yards.

Shakir's brace came up in the 39th minute as PHC took a quick free kick down the right wing. Speedy midfielder Jevone Sealey carried the ball to the byline, from where he crossed perfectly for Shakir who bolted forward to finish from point-black range.

Though Village were clearly far from their best, no side dares take them for granted at 2-0 down with aeons of time left.

Thus PHC were never totally comfortable in the second half until virtually the end when Shakir put the exclamation mark on his fine performance.

An 89th-minute header - over an airborne Burrows' outstretched hands after Sealey's lob from deep - assured Shakir's club of all the points which they richly deserved. It was a showing underlined not only by attacking solidity but also by steadiness in midfield and a resolute defence. Robert Richardson and Tokia Russell were particularly outstanding in the back line; the former's dedication and calmness under pressure, including some vital goalmouth clearances, would have earned him man-of-the-match honours but for Shakir's heroics.

The star of the show was keen to share the limelight with his colleagues after the whistle.

“It was nothing special. I just worked hard for my team and tried to reward them for the service they gave me,” said 28-year-old Shakir.

“Some days you're on and some days you're not. I was on today and I'm just glad I was able to put away the chances I got.”

Village, who must be wondering what's gone horribly wrong since Christmas, saw a Nakia Smith shot rebound from the crossbar early in the second half following a Kevin Jennings corner which eluded the maze of players and was curling into PHC's goal before Corey Dowling's last-second clearance.

Rams skipper Ralph (Gumbo) Bean then headed wide from another Jennings corner while four or five opportunities went a-begging as Village players failed to push into the area in anticipation of crosses from breaks down either wing.

Dejected player/coach Kentoine Jennings left the field chiding his men for not applying themselves.

North Village: A.Burrows, S.Goater, Kofi Dill, M.Hansey, R.Spence (J.Boyles, 45 mins), D.Edwards, K.Jennings, R.Bean Jr, J.Jennings, N.Smith (K.Dill, 74 mins), V.Tankard (T.Jennings, 81 mins).

PHC: R.Glasford, C.Dowling, T.Russell, R.Richardson, J.Sealey, J.Raynor, B.Bean, C.Furbert (A.Furbert, 77 mins), M.Williams (K.Lambe, 49 mins), O.Shakir, K.Mills (Q.Hunt, 76 mins).

Yellow cards: R.Spence (North Village); B.Bean, K.Mills (PHC).

Man of the Match: K.Jennings (North Village); O.Shakir (PHC).

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.