Jahtino Richardson-Martin helped himself to an early birthday present at Bernard Park at the weekend.

The Dandy Town midfielder came off the bench to score the winner and in 1-0 victory over North Village three days before he celebrates his eighteenth birthday.

“It’s a big rivalry between Dandy Town and North Village and it feels great to help my team win a big game,” Richardson-Martin said.

The teenager came on in the 66th minute and took only ten minutes to make an impact.

“The coach [Jomar Wilkinson] told me what to do and I just went on the field, got my chance and finished it,” Richardson-Martin said.

Incidentally, the player’s older brother, Seion Darrell, also had a hand in the goal.

Darrell’s initial shot was parried by Jason Williams, the North Village goalkeeper, and the unmarked Richardson-Martin slammed home the rebound.

“It’s a coincidence that my brother and I both came off the bench and made a big impact,” Richardson-Martin said. “It’s nice playing with my brother because he always helped me become a better player. He used to train me in the yard and I’m more comfortable playing with him.”

Richardson-Martin is studying abroad in junior college and is back for the Christmas holiday. Sunday’s appearance for Town was his first of the 2015-16 campaign.

“I missed my team when I was away,” he said. “But I am enjoying being back and playing with them.”

Town’s victory over Village coupled with Robin Hood’s loss to PHC Zebras sent Town six points clear at the top of the Premier Division with a game in hand with Devonshire Colts.

“It was a big game for us and the coach preached to us how three points will do a lot for us,” Richardson-Martin said.

At the halfway stage of the league season Town look well set for an eighth title.

Richardson-Martin feels good about his team’s chances of league glory, but he is not taking anything for granted.

“We are looking good, but we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves,” he said.

“We take every game as it comes and try and get the three points week in and week out.”

Aspiring to the professional ranks like former Town players Khano Smith and Nahki Wells is an ambition of Richardson-Martin. But for the time being his school studies are his priority.

“That will always be my dream to turn professional and if I ever get the chance I will try and take it,” Richardson-Martin said.

“But I’m in school right now, and so my priority is trying to get my degree in sports management and go from there.”