Somerset Trojans 1 Paget Lions 2

Shakir Smith scored a second-half winner to lead Paget Lions to a tight victory over Somerset Trojans at Somerset Cricket Club on Sunday.

Paget Lions started with attacking intent as Trojans were unable to play through their intense forward press in the opening stages, with the opening goal during that aggressive start.

A free kick, won by Dupray Joell, was swung in by Padraig Castle and Trojans defender Michari Tear-Deleon got his body shape wrong to head into his own net under pressure from Paget attacker Omari Tucker.

Paget continued to exert their dominance in possession and created the better openings of the first half, with Trojans struggling to cope with their quick passing and composure in possession.

They could have doubled their lead on multiple occasions in the first half, most notably when Bermuda cricket captain Delray Rawlins’s shot was destined for the bottom right corner but was acrobatically saved by Somerset goalkeeper Yizharyah Williams.

Trojans were wasteful in possession for large periods of the first half and when they did string a few passes together, they lacked creativity and failed to break down a resolute Lions defence.

Paget, last year’s First Division champions, lost a bit of their control in the early stages of the second half, and Trojans gained territory and possession for the first 15 minutes.

Their equaliser came from a sweeping move as Khairi Joyiens played forward for Rio Russell, who clipped a beautiful pass into the penalty area for Haile Eve to control, make space for himself and fire a powerful shot into the near post past Troy Hall.

Trojans made a tactical switch in an attempt to bring a different dimension to their attack minutes later, replacing Russell with Deunte Darrell, which marked a more direct approach in the final third of the game.

Paget’s defensive duo of Rakeem DeShields and captain Julian Carpenter were very aggressive and their composed approach paid dividends in the transition to the counter-attack.

Their winner came after another poor initial clearance from a set-piece by Castle, this time Shakir Smith smashing in a volley from around the penalty spot. Trojans pushed hard for a second equaliser, but failed to make the right decision in the final third.

Paget coach Antwan Russell felt his side were largely dominant.

“We were largely in control,” Russell said.

“We made it hard for ourselves with a couple of lapses in judgment, which we spoke about at half-time.

“We have a big experience advantage. However, you have to use that properly.”

SCORERS

Somerset Trojans: Eve 56

Paget Lions: Tear-DeLeon og 9, Smith 73

TEAMS

Somerset Trojans (4-2-3-1): Y Williams 6 – J Shields 5, M Nisbett-Tankard 5, M Tear-Deleon 5, D Bean 5 – K Joyiens 6 (sub: C Durham, 70 5), J Ratteray-Smith 6 – J Powell 5 (sub: J Greaves, 70 5), R Russell 6 (sub: D Darrell, 60 5), J Furbert 5 – H Eve 6 (sub: E Mendes, 87). Substitutes not used: K Cann, J Simmons, K McNeil. Booked: Darrell, Greaves, Eve.

Paget Lions (4-1-3-2): T Hall 6 – K Durrant 6 (sub: J White, 64 5), R Deshields 7, J Carpenter 6, K Simons 5 (sub: S Lambert, 80) – D Joell 6 – S Smith 6, P Castle 6, K Hypolite 6 (sub: A Grant, 64 5) – D Rawlins 5, O Tucker 6 (sub: Z Weller, 58 5). Substitutes not used: O Deshields, K Davis, A Russell. Booked: Simons, Carpenter.

Referee: L Christopher.