PHC Zebras 2 St George’s 1

Cecoy Robinson’s second-half winner spared PHC Zebras’ blushes against First Division giant killers St George’s Colts in an evenly fought match at PHC Field yesterday.

The PHC captain secured his team’s passage through to the next round with a well-taken goal on a quick break that caught the visiting side off balance.

PHC’s Jaavaid Warren-Smith and St George’s Allan Douglas traded goals to keep the tie poised on a razor’s edge.

Very little separated the two teams who enjoyed their share of possession and created ample chances to pull away. Robinson’s clinical strike proved to be the difference on the day.

However, had St George’s, who matched their hosts in every department, taken more of their chances they might have claimed another Premier Division scalp having ousted Boulevard in the previous round.

PHC dictated the tempo from the opening kick off and took a deserved lead. Forward Warren-Smith was fouled deep in St George’s half. Robinson’s free kick was fumbled by Paynter and Warren-Smith tapped in at the back post to put Zebras’ noses out in front.

PHC went close to doubling their lead when Robinson broke away on a counter attack and sent an inviting cross which Sharrieff placed wide. The goal that the visiting side’s dominant spell warranted finally arrived when they were awarded a penalty.

Right back Kadeem Abraham fouled Douglas in the box and referee Martin Wyer pointed to the spot. Signor took the initial spot-kick, which was saved. However, the referee ordered the kick to be retaken after Hunt moved early off his line.

St George’s switched penalty kickers, with Douglas beating Hunt with a shot that clipped the left upright.

PHC were forced to make a change early in the second half after scorer Warren-Smith was struck by a clearance in the groin. The forward received lengthy treatment on the sidelines but was unable to continue.

Defender Na’eem Griffith picked out Robinson with a long ball from midfield. Robinson ran between St George’s centre backs Jarreau Hayward and Philip Anderson, the St George’s captain, before lobbing the onrushing Paynter for Zebras’ second.

Undeterred, St George’s kept battling on and came close to drawing level again when Douglas’s goal-bound effort was cleared off the line by Abraham, who made amends for conceding the penalty earlier on.

Douglas’s strike partner Donovan Thompson, who had a quiet afternoon by his standards, then brought off an outstanding save from Hunt.

That proved to be the closest St George’s came to scoring again and they were fortunate not to fall further behind when Abraham fired Robinson’s pullback wide.