Flanagan’s Onions 0 PHC Zebras 9

PHC Zebras gave an early statement of their intentions for the season as Marco Warren scored a hat-trick in a 9-0 thrashing of Flanagan’s Onions at Goose Gosling Field yesterday.

The Zebras, runners-up to Robin Hood in the Premier Division last season, took an early lead through Cecoy Robinson, the captain. Keishon Bean intercepted a poor pass from out of the Onions defence and fed the ball to Warren. He picked out Robinson on the edge of the box and the captain duly obliged by rifling the ball into the net.

Robinson’s early goal allowed PHC to settle and get into their stride and a second goal looked certain. However, what happened next surprised everyone.

In the 21st minute, Robinson seemingly lost his head and got involved in a dispute with his coach, Scott Morton, who then substituted him for striker Dunte Albouy.

In the 23rd minute, Warren doubled his side’s lead by scoring from close range after connecting with a Kadeem Abraham cross from the left.

PHC then got two more quickfire goals just before the interval. In the 43rd minute, Daren Usher was able to find himself in space and drive in a low shot that sneaked into the goal despite the best efforts of Chejon Berkeley, the Onions goalkeeper. Then in first-half stoppage time, youngster Jaheim Iris followed up after Albouy’s shot was parried to give the Zebras a 4-0 lead at the half.

In the 51st minute, Albouy had another shot parried by the goalkeeper and this time Casey Castle was on hand to tuck the ball home for his side’s fifth goal.

Nine minutes later, after a low cross came in from the right, winger Bean was able to provide the simplest of touches and put the ball home.

The Zebras soon had a magnificent seventh goal. Wing wizard Warren was able to beat the whole Onions defence and dribble into the box and produce an exquisite finish for his second goal.

The misery continued for Onions after Treshun Smith’s penalty was saved by Quinaceo Hunt, the young Zebras goalkeeper.

After Onions missed their penalty and their chance at consolation, their day got even worse. Keishon Bean chipped the ball home from just inside the area and then Warren completed his hat-trick after a quick PHC breakaway to extend the lead to 9-0.

PHC almost found a tenth goal just before full-time. Albouy, who had worked hard all game, was put into the area late on but could only manage to steer his shot wide.

Scorers

PHC Zebras

Robinson 3, Warren 23, 62, 84, Usher 43, Iris 45, Castle 51, Bean 60, 70

TEAMS

Flanagan’s Onions (4-3-3): C Berkeley – Markez Laws, Martel Laws, P Robey, N Anglin (sub: P Smith, 65 min) – C Burns, J Scott, J Higson – S Swan (sub: S Gould, 65), T Smith, M Field. Substitutes not used: M Lindsey-Bailey, M Ward.

PHC Zebras (4-3-3): Q Hunt – D Usher, M Waldron, R Deshields, K Abraham (sub: D Lightbourne, 65) – T Ming (sub: D Davis, 60), J Iris, K Bean – M Warren, C Robinson (sub: D Albouy, 20), C Castle. Substitutes not used: M Lambe, S Trott, O Tucker.

Referee: Martin Wyer