X-Roads 5 Somerset Trojans 3

X-Roads got their league campaign off to a fine start by defeating Somerset Trojans in the Premier Division at Garrison field yesterday.

New signings Donovan Thompson and Jahron Dickinson were among the scorers, much to the delight of coach Fareed El Karfa.

“The overall performance was convincing and I am especially pleased with our chemistry in the attack,” El Karfa said.

“We clearly have some work to do as a unit defensively, but I thought we played well and were always dangerous going forward.”

It was destined to be a goal-laden game as both teams were open from the start, and showed very little in the form of defensive organisation.

There were early chances at both ends, but it was Somerset who drew first blood through Vernon Perinchief in the twelfth minute.

The midfielder controlled a poor clearance at the edge of the box and curled his effort into the top corner.

Five minutes later, Thompson showed his value to his new club, heading home a Tymon Daniels cross from the right to level the score.

Immediately after the half-hour water break, the lanky striker was at it again, pouncing on a rebound from a Dickinson shot to put his team ahead from two yards. The lead would not last long, as D’Andre Wainwright struck in the 40th minute.

The young striker showed good strength, shrugging off challenges en route to goal, and unleashed a firm, low drive from 15 yards that nestled into the far corner. The teams looked to be going into the interval on even terms, but in the 44th minute Jamin Furbert placed a firm header into the top corner from a set piece to take a one-goal lead into the half.

The pace of the game was not as fast after the break, but both teams were still finding chances easy to come by.

It was Tymon Daniels who scored the goal of the game in the 52nd minute, dispossessing a Somerset defender in a dangerous area and unleashing a fierce drive from 25 yards.

The visiting side were not out of it yet, finding inspiration through substitute Antoine Seaman’s pace on the left flank.

Justin Corday, the Trojans captain, finished off a square pass from the winger from close range to bring his team back into the match.

Although fatigue was becoming a factor, Somerset continued to push for an equaliser.

But it was Dickinson who put the game to bed, receiving a Khamori Brangman through ball rounding the goalkeeper, and finishing into an empty net.

TEAMS

X Roads (4-3-3): D Cooper — J Furbert, K Wilkinson, T Lowe (sub: K Brangman, 60min), A Burgess (sub: T Smith, 85) — T Daniels, O Williams, D Baker (sub: R Beek 68) — D Thompson, J Dickinson, P Richardson. Substitutes not used:

K Hamilton, T Lowe, J Sanchez, T Pedro. Bookings: Wilkinson, Dickinson.

Somerset Trojans (4-3-3) J Morrisey — J Hill (sub: M Herschke, 45), C Durham, T Ming, D Wainwright — J Corday, J Rattery-Smith (sub: A Seaman, 65), J Rattery-Smith — V Perinchief, D Swan, H Butterfield (sub: K Hollis, 53). Substitutes not used: Y Williams, D Zuill, D Lister, J Butterfield. Bookings: Perinchief.

Referee: L Cann.