PHC 1 Dev. Colts 0 It took PHC just 25 seconds to take the lead at Wellington Oval yesterday and if they can hang on for another 90 minutes in the second leg of the final on Wednesday then the Dudley Eve trophy will be theirs for a sixth time.

With five final wins, the Zebras have already lifted the Christmas holiday trophy more times than any other club.

Only twice have a team recovered from a first game loss to win the trophy. PHC did it in 1984-85 against North Village when they lost 2-1 and then won 2-0 while North Village lost to Hotels 1-0 in the first final in 1987-88 before winning the second match by the same score and then taking the title 4-3 on penalties.

The fact that PHC lead by the slimmest of margins guarantees plenty of interest when the teams meet again in the decider on New Year's Day.

Still, the goal by Otis Steede proved crucial as PHC now need only a draw to take the crown.

It came right from the kick-off before Colts even got a touch. PHC worked the ball down the field on the left side through Blenn Bean and Sheridan Ming before Raynel Lightbourne's shot was blocked by the diving Troy Hall. When the ball rolled free, Steede followed up to force it over the line.

The week-long break Devonshire Colts enjoyed as first qualifiers for the final didn't appear to work in their favour as they lacked sharpness and fluency.

PHC, even without a rest, looked more lively and enjoyed a good opening period. Lightbourne, starting in place of Winston Trott, was in the thick of the action as he went close with a long range effort that went just over the bar.

Colts did get the ball in the net on the half hour but Mark Ray's effort was ruled out for offside. With Ellington Weldon on the bench resting a slight hamstring pull, Colts lacked a proven goalscorer. And with Keimon Lawrence having an off day on the left flank, Ray got little support up front.

They were further hurt when Aljame Zuill started to feel the efforts of the flu from which he had been suffering, and he was replaced late in the first half by Keishon Smith.

"Keishon came on and brought some urgency but all-round the guys were not prepared to play,'' said captain Shannon Burgess afterwards.

Colts had a good opportunity two minutes before the break when a move down the right side resulted in Jahmal Samuels' cross finding Ray at the near post. He steered the ball away from goalkeeper Jay Smith for Vic Ball but the midfielder wasn't prepared to try a shot with his left foot from a good position and his pass to Lawrence was put wide after he had to turn and shoot.

The closest Colts would come to finding the net was in the 50th minute when hard-working midfielder Keenan Burchall missed by inches. After a corner from Ray on the left was only half cleared, Burchall pounced on the edge of the box with a shot back into a crowded area which was on its way through before Stanton Lewis at the post booted it out. Burchall had already started to celebrate.

PHC went straight downfield as Hall made a good save to deny Sheridan Ming.

Minutes later Hall almost paid for a poor kick when his intended pass to full back Jermel Belboda was intercepted by the nippy Ming whose resulting pass was put over the bar by Lightbourne.

Ming went close again in the 66th minute, this time when a quick break through substitute Kenny Mills enabled him to get off a shot from the right side of the box which smashed against the crossbar.

Colts made two further substitutions in the second half, replacing Lawrence with college student Sullivan Phillips who had trouble settling in to the pace of the game while Weldon came on for Samuels 20 minutes from the end as Colts played their last trump card.

However, PHC's back four of Enwar Hunt and Stanton Lewis on the flanks and Dano Outerbridge and Mark Wade in the middle stood firm.

Referee Richard Knight made four bookings -- Anderson of PHC and Lawrence of Colts in the first half and Wade and Ray in the closing minutes, all for ungentlemanly conduct.

PHC: J.Smith; E.Hunt, D.Outerbridge, M.Wade, S.Lewis, B.Anderson, B.Bean, O.Steede, T.Russell (K.Mills 55 mins), S.Ming (D.Wilson 87 mins), R.Lightbourne (W.Trott 82 mins).

Dev.Colts: T.Hall; Jermel Belboda, M.Hollis, S.Burgess, Jermaine Belboda, J.Samuels (E.Weldon 70 mins), K.Burchall, V.Ball, A.Zuill (K.Smith 34 mins), M.Ray, K.Lawrence (S.Phillips 57 mins).

Referee: Richard Knight Men of the match: Otis Steede (PHC), Keenan Burchall (Colts)