Two-goal Keishen earns Village final Trophy spot
Village struck twice early in the second half, withstood a period of sustained Zebras pressure and then put the result beyond doubt deep in injury time to join Devonshire Cougars, Somerset Trojans and Boulevard in the festive tournament.
Returning striker Keishen Bean netted twice while Reds’ captain Ralph Bean jr converted from the penalty spot after Tarik Jennings was fouled in the box.
Zebras captain Blenn Bean scored a consolation strike with the best goal of the game late in the second half.
While the final scoreline might suggest a comfortable Reds win, in truth Village had to dig deep to get by a Zebras side inspired by the tireless hussle of Bean in the middle and midfielder Michael Williams who caused all sorts of trouble on the right flank.
But it was Village who held a slight edge and had several opportunities to break the ice in the early going. First an off-balance Tarik Jennings and Ralph Bean both shot over from acute angles before Nakia Smith’s fiercely driven effort from 30 yards just barely missed the target.
Keishen Bean, back from a groin injury, headed wide and Reds skipper Bean followed up with a header that rolled just wide of the upright as Village continued to pile on the pressure.
But with half-time looming, Zebras reverted to their long ball game which gradually began to open Village up at the back.
During one of his many penetrating runs, Williams’ precision cross was sliced wide by Lonnie Bascome who was also guilty of ballooning over when well positioned inside the area.
Yet for all their hard work, both teams had nothing to show at the end of a scoreless first half.
That, however, would soon change as Village struck twice within ten minutes of the restart to knock Zebras completely off stride.
Whatever words Reds coach Maceo Dill barked at his team during the break obviously had some effect as Village came out all guns blazing and nearly took the lead through Sammy Degraff. But with a wide open goal staring him in the face, the Whitney Institute teacher struck the bar while Keishen Bean followed up with a glancing header that was tipped over by an alert Jay Smith in the Zebras’ goal.
But PHC’s luck finally ran out in the 50th minute when Degraff’s defence-splitting pass put Keishen Bean in the clear. And with a flick with the outside of the boot, the teenage striker slipped the ball through the legs of the onrushing Smith and into the unprotected goal.
And before Zebras could figure out what had hit them, the men in black found themselves trailing by a pair after again being exposed at the back on the counter attack.
Village directed their attack down the right side this time with plenty of numbers in support and when Tarik Jennings was sent sprawling in the area, referee Anthony Mouchette had no option but to award a spot kick which Zebras hotly disputed.
Keeper Smith got a hand Ralph Bean’s penalty but it wasn’t enough to prevent the ball from crossing the line.
With Village holding a two-goal cushion, the momentum suddenly shifted back in Zebras’ favour, especially when striker Dennis Russell jumped off the bench in the 70th minute to add more bite to his team’s attack.
Russell’s first touch of the ball, a short pass to player/coach Kyle Lightbourne in the box, resulted in the former English pro hitting the upright with his opposite number Dwayne Adams completely beaten for pace. PHC’s veteran striker Sammy Swan inexplicably lifted the rebound over an empty net as Zebras’ confidence continued to grow.
Having gained the upper hand, PHC were finally rewarded for their perseverance when Bean left a defender in his wake outside the 18-yard box and then beat Adams from the tightest of angles with a swerving left-footed shot that nestled inside the far post.
Williams then had every Village fan in the ground gasping for breath when his rasping shot from all of 35 yards dipped onto the crossbar with Adams a mere spectator.
Those same Village fans then applauded when Williams was surprisingly substituted despite being a constant threat to the home team’s defence with his assortment of ‘old school’ tricks and pace.
Still, a PHC goal appeared imminent, Zebras’ defender Damon Francis surging forward and letting rip with a right footed shot that went just wide.
Unfortunately for Zebras, however, all of their hard work went down the drain when Village scored a third goal against the run of play to put the match well beyond their reach.
Catching Zebras short at the back on the counter attack, Bean risked his health by lobbing over the gigantic Smith to completely kill off the slim Dudley Eve hopes of Zebras and idle Dandy Town.
North Village<$>: D.Adams, D.Simons, K.Dill, K.Jennings, R.Wilson, N.Smith, R.Bean Jr (capt), D.Hunt (S.Hollis, 73 mins), T.Jennings, K.Bean, D.Degraff
PHC: J.Smith, M.Williams (A.Grant, 80 mins), O.Shakir, D.Francis, D.Wilson, B.Bean (capt), C.Dowling, C.Furbert, K.Lightbourne, S.Swan (K.Hewey, 85 mins), L.Base (D.Russell, 70 mins).
Yellow cards<$>: O.ShakirHC)
Men of the match<$>: K.Bean (Village); B.Bean (PHC)
Referee: Anthony Mouchette.
