The Strike Force is back! After losing their best young players to the Under-23 national team, league leaders PHC Zebras were forced to turn back the clock on Saturday night and it worked to amazing effect.

Sammy Swan, who put on a virtuoso performance, scored twice and was joined in that department by Kenny Burt and Sheridan Ming as the home side kept their 100 percent record intact.

The final scoreline did not reflect PHC's superiority on the night as they conceded two more soft goals to allow Colts in with a chance.

After Ellington Weldon scored Colts' third goal, PHC held firm but coach Leroy Lewis may soon have to address what is a mounting goalkeeping problem.

However, there was far more positive than negative in this performance by the Zebras. Regulars in Germany include centre-half Dano Outerbridge, midfielders Blenn Bean and Ottis Steede, and forward Raynel Lightbourne.

Roderick Lewis, who often looked uncertain, came in to play left-back with Mark Wade moving to partner Mike Dill in the middle. Ming and the quietly effective Gavin Simmons performed admirably in midfield and Swan and Burt were their dangerous selves, despite having lost a stride in pace.

Young 'keeper Ellsworth Bean started commendably in goal for PHC as his handling for most of the first hour was faultless. He was first called into action in the sixth minute after Craig Smith drove in a low free kick from the right.

Three minutes later, PHC should have been ahead.

On the first of many occasions when Colts central defenders Robert Tota and Chris Caisey were caught square, Shawn Simons was sprung by Swan but his finish was dreadful.

Simons turned provider to Burt in the 15th minute in almost identical fashion but the striker's last touch let him down and Cordell Gilbert rushed off his line to save.

Mike Dill, a tower of strength in the PHC defence, had the crowd on its toes in the 23rd minute after going on a pacy run from deep in his half. But after receiving the final telling pass from Ming, he recognised the unfamiliar territory and left Gilbert without a shot to save.

The opening goal came on the half-hour as Swan beat the offside trap to reach a well-weighted pass from Simmons and blast past Gilbert.

Colts charged right back with right-back Dennis Williams firing a low cross that went untouched through the goal area.

Then, in the 34th minute, Bean again showed his worth by holding on to a vicious Smith free kick with Weldon ready to pounce on the rebound.

From the clearance, Colts' poor organisation at the back was exposed in simplistic fashion.

Anthony Stovell sent an early ball forward for Swan who beat Tota and Caisey with one move and comfortably turned the ball by Gilbert.

That prompted coach Lorenzo Symonds to switch Caisey and central midfielder Leonard Hypolite.

Ultimately, Hypolite would do a reasonable job, but first he nearly gifted PHC a third goal.

After doing well to dispossess Simons deep in his own half, Hypolite's outlet pass went straight to Simmons. The cross was met by Burt whose sweeping shot was inches wide.

Burt would not be denied, however, as he connected with an overhead kick in the 41st minute after Lewis headed down a Simons corner.

Colts were in a shambles and fortunate not to be four or five goals down.

They replaced James Pace with Marvin Lewis 11 minutes in the second half and the sub assisted in their first goal two minutes later.

Smith netted with a searing 20-yarder after a Weldon fake. Again, it was a shot Bean should have saved -- especially considering the quality of his handling to deny the same player moments earlier -- but he mistimed his dive and the ball went under him.

PHC responded magnificently and it was through Swan's persistent running that the game was put away in the 73rd minute.

After leaving Williams for dead near the halfway line, Swan went on a diagonal run which culminated in a hard and low cross that went past two players before an unmarked Ming connected with a well-struck side-footer.

Colts refused to quit and sub Ricky Nesbitt provided the night's most stunning goal in the 76th minute. Picking up the ball from some 35 yards out on the left, the stocky midfielder advanced a few strides and beat Bean with a stinging shot that went in off the far post.

That prompted coach Lewis to have Ty Williams warm up for the second straight match.

Colts, meanwhile, were rejuvenated and indeed dominated the last quarter hour, forcing PHC into desperate defending.

With three minutes left, final hope was provided when Bean missed Smith's deep cross from the right and Weldon bundled it over the line with his shoulder.

But, despite constant pressure, Colts could not test Bean's nerves again and had to accept a one-goal defeat, which could have been much worse.

PHC: E.Bean; R.Lewis, M.Dill, M.Wade, A.Stovell; S.Ming, M.Trott (S.Trott, 79 mins), G.Simmons; S.Swan, K.Burt, S.Simons.

Devonshire Colts: C.Gilbert; A.Wilson, C.Caisey (R.Nesbitt, 69 mins), R.Tota, D.Williams; R.Holdipp, L.Hypolite, V.Ball; C.Smith, J.Pace (M.Lewis, 56 mins), E.Weldon.

Referee: Frank Drayton.

Men of the match: Sammy Swan (PHC), Craig Smith (Devonshire Colts).