X-Roads 1 Social Club 0

Jamin Furbert, the X-Roads captain, scored his team’s first goal in the top flight to give them victory over fellow Premier Division newcomers Young Men’s Social Club at Garrison Field.

The win lifted X-Roads two places off the bottom of the table, ahead of Social Club and Somerset Trojans.

Furbert rose above Kelly Francois to meet Kijuan Wilkinson’s free kick and score past goalkeeper Reid Trott.

The goal was no more than X-Roads deserved after creating the best chances in the first half, only to be denied by a couple of fine saves from Trott.

“I think we were the better team, we showed a lot of character and fight,” Farid El Karfa, the X-Roads coach, said. “We played our game, did the things that we do well.

“I’m happy with the team, happy with the way we fought. It wasn’t an easy game, I thought Social Club showed a lot of fight, especially in the second half. We were happy to keep the scoreline as it was in the first half.”

El Karfa praised his captain for leading from the front.

“That’s what leadership is about,” he said. “Jamin is a leader; he has the right character and showed it in the game today.

“I’m proud of him and the team. It’s a start, the team is starting to gel and most importantly we started to show some fight. I think we’re heading in the right direction for more wins to come in the near future.”

X-Roads’ Kashi Davis-Jones was denied a goal midway through the first half, when he met Rico Beek’s free kick, only to see his side-footed effort saved by Trott.

The home side enjoyed a greater share of possession but could not capitalise on a number of corners as the Social Club defence stood firm.

Social Club, forced to make a substitution in the 29th minute when midfielder Andrew Samuels went off injured, came closest to scoring in the closing minutes of the half when Jez Burrows tipped a header from Clay Darrell over the crossbar from a corner.

X-Roads went close to doubling their lead five minutes into the second when Trott dropped the ball from a cross as Wilkinson challenged. The ball rolled towards the open goal before Lawrence Doughty made a timely clearance.

Social Club made a double substitution on the hour mark, bringing on Makai Young and Jarizhino Simmons for Cory Burgess and Kenneth Butterfield in an attempt to freshen things up. Captain Michael Smith went closest for them when his left-footed effort from 25 yards brought off a diving save from Burrows.

Antinori Butterfield, a substitute for X-Roads, wasted a chance to increase their lead when he broke through, but hit a weak shot straight at the goalkeeper.

Young, who directed some of his early frustration at his team-mates, was dismissed by referee Martin Wyer after the final whistle. First he was booked for remarks he made and then responded with some expletives and was shown the red card.

TEAMS

X-Roads: J Burrows — A Burgess, J Furbert, K Wilkinson, T Lowe (sub: A Heyliger, 66min), P Parsons, T Daniels, K Davis-Jones, K Brangman, D Baker (sub: A Butterfield, 75), R Beek (sub: P Quinn, 67). Substitutes not used: K Godfrey, N Johnston, K Matthie. Booked: Baker.

YMSC: R Trott — M Smith, K Francois, G Saltus, D Simons, L Doughty, C Burgess (sub: J Simmons, 60), A Samuels (sub: K Rawlins, 28), C Darrell, K Butterfield (sub: M Young, 60), N Armstrong. Substitutes not used: T Caines-Dill, K Lightbourne. Sent off: Young.

Referee: M Wyer.