St. David’s 0 PHC Zebras 1<$>

A goal after six minutes by Raynel (Mango) Lightbourne enabled visitors PHC Zebras to come away with maximum points in this Premier Division clash at breezy Lord’s yesterday.

But the victors had to be thankful to a rather generous host side who matched their opponents throughout and deserved a share of the points. So many clear-cut chances fell to bottom of the table St. David’s that they should have not come out of the contest empty handed.

One feared a walkover when the Zebras struck early, Lightbourne stroking the ball in from close range after Lonne Bascome crossed from the left.

But with the wind at their backs St. David’s mounted serious attacks for the rest of the half of a contest that failed to produce any real vintage football.

After 11 minutes Ankoma (Toast) Cannonier’s defence-spliting cross found Landro Minors whose vicious drive from 16 yards was sensationally blocked by the advancing Raymon Glasford in the PHC goal. Cannonier and Minors teamed up again after 27 minutes and this time the latter headed a corner inches over.

Two minutes later skipper Angelo Cannonier, during a breakaway, astonishingly lobbed the ball over the advancing goalkeeper and the goal when he should have equalised.

PHC were never once dominated, but misdirected passing when they advanced deep into the St. David’s half often led to their downfall.

Their best chance came after 33 minutes when a wicked 26-yard left-footer by Blenn Bean forced Chris Douglas in the St. David’s goal to dive full length and turn the ball around the post.

With the wind now in their favour when play re-started PHC were expected to be more enterprising and be capable of unlocking the home team’s defence, but this was not to be.

Instead they continued to look frustrated going forward and consequently accomplished little in the form of goal-scoring threats.

St. David’s though still deserved close watching during counter-attacks and it was from one that they had their best chance, when substitute Desmond Crockwell forced Glasford to brilliantly block a shot from 16 yards after 77 minutes.

Three minutes later PHC substitute Aquino Grant directed a shot from 20 yards just wide of the post, but it was only one of too few scoring scoring attempts by the visitors who rode home happily nevertheless thanks to Lightbourne’s early strike.

St. David’s<$>: C.Douglas; Ank.Cannonier (J.Lovell, 50 min), K.Franks, J.Minors, L.Marshall; A.Russell, C.Richardson (K.Fox, 65 min), C.Garcia, M.Jones; L.Minors (D.Crockwell, 45 min), Ang.Cannonier. Subs not used: J.Daniels, D.Simmons.

PHC: R.Glasford; M.Williams, S.Smith, D.Outerbridge, D.Wilson; K.Lambe (I.Barry, 52 min), J.Sealey, B.Bean; L.Bascome (S.Russell, 77 min), R.Lightbourne, J.Smith (A.Grant, 68 min). Subs not used: J.Almeidia, D.Francis.

Booked<$>: Yellow Card _ K.Fox (St. David’s).

Men of the match: Andre Russell (St. David’s); Raymon Glasford (PHC).

Referee: Leroy Wilson