North Village 3

PHC Zebras 1

Keishen Bean ushered in his 21st birthday in spectacular fashion at Bernard Park yesterday, banging in a clinically taken hat-trick to keep the 'Red Army's league title hopes alive with one match remaining this season.

Bean converted in the seventh, 38th and 50th minutes to leave league leaders PHC Zebras - who had striker Raynel (Manga) Lightbourne sent off - licking their wounds instead of sipping champagne.

"This was a big match for us today and we thrive on pressure," an elated Bean commented afterwards. "This was certainly one of my better performances this season - I was really fired up this one."

And so too was Reds' soft-spoken coach Elliott Jennings who commended his team for the manner in which they ruthlessly picked apart the high-flying Zebras.

"Our finishing and technique was better today and I also thought we controlled the ball better," he said. "PHC still had their chances but at the end of the day we put ours away and they didn't."

Jennings also singled out Bean's superb finishing that gave the Reds the decisive edge.

"Today was definitely Keishen's day. He's an excellent player," the former Village midfielder said. "Keishen performed extremely well for us."

Yesterday's result saw the Reds shave Zebras' lead at the summit to three-points and they must now beat Ireland Rangers by at least five goals in the final match of the season and rely upon Devonshire Cougars to topple PHC - who can only lose the Premier Division championship on goal difference - if they are overhaul their nearest rivals for the coveted title.

"PHC are still in the driver's seat but it's not over yet and we intend to fight until the end," Jennings declared.

Zebras' coach Kyle Lightbourne admitted Village were the better team on the day.

"It just wasn't our day today," he lamented. "We gave ourselves a mountain to climb, but couldn't climb it."

Zebras were rocked on their heels early in the match when Bean made the visitors pay for some slack defending. Jamaul Boyles' high free-kick was headed back in the middle by Sammy DeGraff where Bean's crisp shot on the turn found its intended destination at the far post.

But PHC drew level eight- minutes later, albeit in comical fashion, as Reds' 'keeper Jason Williams fumbled Blenn Bean's cross in at the near post.

What happened next really cannot be explained as Zebras' Trinidadian midfielder Keston Lewis somehow found a way to miss six yards in front of goal with time and space on his side.

"Keston probably had the best opportunity of the game for us and it was criminal to miss the target from there," Lightbourne said.

It was a miss that ultimately came back to haunt PHC in a big way as Bean doubled Village's lead just minutes before the break after the visitors paid the price again for reacting slow under seige at the rear.

Attacking down PHC's left-side, Jemeiko Jennings sent in a cross that was headed back in the goalmouth by the subdued Ralph Bean Jr and met by the boot of namesake Bean whose thunderous blast soared into the roof of the net.

Bean then completed his treble early in the second-half with another gem of a goal, this time beating Zebras' custodian Jay Smith from the edge of the box with a low drive that nestled in at the back post.

Zebras were reduced to ten men in the 65th minute when striker Lightbourne was sent for an early shower for a late tackle on Village's Randy Spence.

The visitors nearly reduced the deficit in the closing minutes when Boyles cleared a Kevin Richards header off the line. But it just wasn't to be PHC's day as Village's back four of Kofi Dill, Robert Wilson, Damon Edwards and sub Michael Hansey formed a formidable wall and held out until ref Ronue Cann blew the final whistle.

North Village: J.Williams, R.Wilson, K.Dill, D.Edwards, R.Spence (M.Hansey, 72 mins), J.Boyles, J.Jennings, S.Hollis (K.Dill, 77 mins), S.DeGraff, R.Bean Jr, K.Bean

PHC: J.Smith, J.Almedia (M.Waldron, 77 mins), O.Shakir, K.Richards, C.Dowling, B.Bean, C.Furbert, K.Lewis, D.Russell (C.Robinson, 64 mins), R.Lightbourne, K.Lambe (J.Ball, 53 mins).

Yellow cards: R.Spence, J.Boyles (Village)

Sent off: R.Lightbourne (PHC)

Men of the match: K.Bean (Village); K.Richards (PHC).

Referee: Ronue Cann.