Young Men’s Social Club 0 PHC Zebras 4

PHC Zebras started their defence of the FA Cup with a “Jekyll and Hyde” performance before coming away with a 4-0 victory over Young Men’s Social Club at Police Field to advance to the quarter-finals.

Second-half goals by Cecoy Robinson, Marco Warren, substitute Kushae Hypolite and Marquel Waldron secured a win that extends their unbeaten streak, in all competitions, for the 2017-2018 season.

Social Club they took the game to the holders and should have scored within the first two minutes when striker Clay Darrell dribbled through the defence to find himself one-on-one with Shaquille Trott, the Zebras goalkeeper. However, Darrell preferred to dribble instead of shooting at goal, which allowed Trott to smother the ball at his feet.

The home side’s no-nonsense defence, marshalled by Kelly Francois and Lawrence Doughty, were denying every attack PHC were throwing at them by clearing every ball to safety and Social Club came close to scoring again when Phillip Mallory laid a ball off for Darrell to run on to. His chipped shot forced a one-handed diving save from Trott to push over the top.

Darrell was tormenting the PHC defense with his forceful running but lacked a finishing touch.

PHC came close to scoring near the half when Marco Warren was on the end of a through ball by Daren Usher, but Reid Trott, the Social Club goalkeeper was able to save Warren’s flick-on with his feet.

A stern half-time talk by PHC coach Scott Morton paid off early in the second period when Warren would flick a long goal-kick into the path of Robinson, who outpaced his marker and without breaking stride, slammed the ball past the hapless keeper. The second goal came shortly after when Warren drove a low, 20-yard free kick into the corner of Trott’s goal.

By this time, PHC’s fitness and discipline had taken over, leaving Social Club to defend wave after wave of attacks from the Zebras.

Social Club had back to back chances to score when first, Mallory had his goalbound free-kick saved by Michael Lambe, then substitute Nique Armstrong was played through, but his first-time shot was saved by keeper Trott diving to his left.

PHC would then close out the score with two goals in the last four minutes. Hypolite’s initial shot was blocked but he would follow up to bundle the ball over the line and then in the last minute, Waldron was left unmarked as he composed himself to squeeze his shot between keeper Reid Trott and the near post.