North Village 0

PHC 1

In a match devoid of individual brilliance or calamitous mistake a well-taken set-piece will often be the defining moment.

And so it proved in this FA Cup battle between Bermuda's current footballing giants with Kevin Richards striking the deciding blow with a header from a Blenn Bean flag-kick at the end of the first-half.

Yet it would do PHC a major injustice to suggest a training ground set-piece was the only factor that separated them from an ineffective North Village.

Quite simply, Rams were out-muscled, out-hustled and out-played by Kyle Lightbourne's men who will surely now hold the psychological advantage over Rams as the business end of the season approaches.

Because when it comes do doing the simple things PHC are quite simply far better than any other team on the Island.

From their black and silver shirts tucked neatly into their shorts, right down to their thorough warm-ups conducted in almost military precision, PHC look more like a football team than their rivals.

On the pitch they clear their defensive lines better, close down their opponents with more tenacity and move the ball to their frontmen quicker.

In fact there is something quite un-Bermudian about their style, which bears more than a striking resemblance to English football. No surprise really considering that's the country where their young coach carved his professional career.

And while the scoreline may suggest this was a close game in reality it wasn't with Zebras' dogs of war Chris Furbert and Keston Lewis rendering Rams usual slick passing pretty much useless.

Jennings' Keith and Jemeiko were completely suffocated and dangerman Ralph Bean limited to only one real chance late on, which he dragged wide.

While they may not always be the prettiest, PHC possess enough flair to lift them way above the realms of 'workmanlike' and crafted the best chance of the match when Lewis' shot was smothered after a smart passing move between Cecoy Robinson and Raynel Lightbourne.

Coach Lighhbourne was understandably buoyant after the game and admitted PHC's football philosophy was built around the bedrocks of English football.

"The players did a really good professional job on North Village and we had talked about this tie resembling the FA Cup final," he said. "We out-hustled them and didn't allow them to settle in midfield - we were really up for this match.

"I was pleased we scored from a set-piece as well because I'm always telling the players a corner-kick, or free-kick, can be the difference in a match.

"It's no secret my football philosophy is based on English football and I think we have a good structure about us."

As the jubilant Zebras players celebrated a joyous supporter was overheard shouting from the Somerset Cricket Club pavilion: "Keith Tucker just pick PHC."

On this evidence you could see where his tongue in cheek suggestion was coming from.

• Last night's other match finished with a 5-0 win for Dandy Town against Somerset.

A correction to the reported late Tuesday night clash between Lobster Pot and Prospect United. The final score was 4-3 to Lobster Pot and not 3-3.