Devonshire Cougars 0 PHC Zebras 2

PHC Zebras moved to the top of the Premier Division table after beating Devonshire Cougars in a Premier Division make-up game at Devonshire Recreation Club yesterday.

A goal in each half by Kushae Hypolite and captain Cecoy Robinson helped PHC to leapfrog X-Roads, while the defeat drags Cougars further into a relegation battle.

The game was marred by two rock throwing incidents in the second half, which were brought to referee Cann’s attention.

The rocks were cleared and a security officer was placed at the western end of the field for the remainder of the game.

The match started at a fast pace, but it was PHC who settled down first with precision passing and spreading the ball wide to stretch the Cougars defence.

The opening goal came after eight minutes when Hypolite and Robinson combined with a quick give and go, which put Hypolite through on goal. The striker composed himself before hitting the ball under the body of the stranded goalkeeper.

Cougars appealed for an offside as the assistant referee had raised his flag but quickly pulled it down as the ball got played through.

After a brief consultation with his assistant, referee Lionel Cann allowed the goal to stand.

Mark Steede, the new Cougars president, put some hard work in to shield the ball, taking it to the corner, but his cross went untouched by any Cougars players.

PHC continued to have the upper hand as Tre Ming hit a hard and low drive from 25 yards, which was saved by goalkeeper Kioshi Trott, before a partial clearance by Cougars captain Zeko White went to Samario Valassie-Paul, who hit a first-time shot that only cleared the crossbar by inches.

Steede should have equalised when Zari Simmons crossed to the back post to find the striker unmarked. Steede was caught between two minds whether to head or shoot and allowed the ball to escape him from one-yard out.

Shortly after the break, Ming was put through but Calin Maybury was able to block his shot as he pulled the trigger to shoot.

Cougars striker Alan Douglas had a good run through the middle but his shot was well saved from PHC goalkeeper Shaquille Trott diving full length to his right.

PHC scored their second with 19 minutes remaining as Ming beat a Cougars defender to the ball with an outstretched high foot.

The ball fell to Robinson who beat the advancing Trott to the ball before chipping it over him and tapping into the net.

Cougars appealed for a high foot but referee Cann allowed the goal to stand.

Omar Butterfield, the Cougars coach, said he felt his side were hard done by: “We can’t do anything about the decisions, but the officials need to get the calls right or they lose control of the game and it gets out of hand.”

SCORERS

PHC Zebras 2

Hypolite 8, Robinson 71

TEAMS

Devonshire Cougars (4-3-3): K Trott — N Carmichael, Z White, C Maybury, J Seymour — D Simmons (sub: O Bascome, 68min), D Daniels, Zari Simmons — Nyeem Simmons (sub: J Mouchette, 60), M Steede (sub: W Sinclair, 82), A Douglas. Substitutes not used: C Matthew, K Wilson. Booked: A Douglas, J Seymour, K Trott.

PHC Zebras (4-4-2): Shaquille Trott — D Usher, R DeShields, M Lambe, D Smith-Lightbourne — D Lodge (sub: M Simmons, 57), S Valasse-Paul (sub: D Dowling, 57), T Ming, M Waldron — C Robinson, K Hypolite (sub: Shakhai Trott, 81). Substitutions not used: T Place, Z Ming-Wilson.

Referee: L Cann.