Photos & Video: PHC Win Friendship Trophy

[Written by Patrick Bean]

A packed house in swag New Year’s Day regalia and raiment were treated to a festival of goals at Somerset Cricket Club on the occasion of the Friendship Trophy and Shield finals. PHC and Southampton Rangers accounted for seven of the 10 goals scored on the day, with each walking away laden with the silverware afforded champions, PHC successfully repeating as Friendship winners with a 5-2 bashing of over-matched Dandy Town, while Rangers successfully defended the Shield against a gallant Hamilton Parish outfit 2-1 during the day’s opening encounter.

PHC 5 Dandy Town 2

Wendell [Tre] Ming erupted on the finals stage to near single-handedly deny Dandy Town any real shot at the Friendship Trophy, scoring a hat-trick for PHC before limping off injured mid-way into the second half.

The Bermuda international midfielder eschewed much of his holding responsibilities, instead revealing his forceful attack mindedness to score twice in a four-goal first half explosion by the Zebras that all but decided the contest, giving Hornets a mountainous task to overcome. Additional insurance scores in the opening stanza came courtesy of a thunderous header from Rakeem DeShields, which opened the scoring, and a sublime, inside-of-the-foot curling effort from visiting overseas student/athlete Keishon Bean.

Ming managed his third in the second period to complete his side’s scoring for a 5-0 lead, however Dandy Town, to their credit, never surrendered the fight and managed two goals of consolation through Angelo Simmons and veteran Damon Ming.

Hat-trick Ming indicated the memory of fallen comrade Mazhye Burchall as the inspiration behind his and PHC’s success on the day and the season

“This was all for Muzzy…that’s what we play on, that’s what we strive on, that’s what we play on,” said Ming, reflecting upon his former teammate, who died earlier this season following a tragic road accident. “Today we just wanted to execute our game plan. Coach Morton brought it to our attention that we had strayed away from what was successful for us last year, which was to have fun while playing.

Ming added how a resistance to the celebratory customs of New Year’s Eve also aided him in his ability to perform the day after.

“I went sleep early last night,” further explained Ming, propped by crutches but unbowed after the match. “I’m just thankful to be able to be a part of the final. I’m thankful for my teammates being able to find me and I’m thankful and happy to be able to play and be a part of this club.”

Still, it was Dandy Town, but for woeful finishing, who should have opened the scoring, but Angelo Simmons and Michael Parsons each wasted close range opportunities in the fifth and seventh minute and they paid an early price at the 18 minute mark when DeShields powered in a header from eight yards following a textbook attack more orchestrated by captain Cecoy Robinson, who drew the defence away from goal and centered to a waiting DeShields to give goalkeeper Jaden Manders no chance with his header.

Ming first got into the act in the 27th minute after Marco Warren and Daren Usher combined on the right to deliver a cross that Ming controlled, swivel and released a blast that gave an exposed Manders no chance.

The pattern continued with Zebras pressing hungrily forward and Town at a loss to defend. Robinson was well denied by Manders in the 32nd minute of what appeared to be a sure strike, however he could not do enough to deny Bean a minute later.

Ming outstripped the defence at the 37 minute mark to successfully lob the keeper and the match was all but over for the singing at the half-time interval.

A fumbled score from Ming three minutes into the second half resolved the scoring and victory for PHC, with Town’s late strikes mere dressing to the scoreline.

“We’ve been working on being able to take our chances early and get on top of the game and once we did that we couldn’t take the pedal off because we knew they would fight back,” said skipper Robinson, his name kept off the score sheet, but his presence and play-making vital to the success. “The main thing was for us to keep going, keep digging and fighting and it was clicking for us today.”

Meanwhile, in the rival corner, Dandy Town coach Devarr Boyles conceded the Zebras as simply better on the day, however his side never bowed or gave up even as the goals deficit mounted and they could a least take pride in reaching the final against many odds.

“It’s definitely not the result we were looking for, to go into half-time at 4-0 down that gave us a mountain to climb and we just didn’t have enough in the second half,” said the coach afterwards. “We can’t take credit for the two goals we scored in the second half…we lost the game.

“So we really have to look at how we started. Sometimes things work for coaches, this time they didn’t because we made a change and we’ll see what comes out in the wash.”

Both teams will now set their focus on the league campaign, with PHC leading the Premier Division and Town contending while presently in fifth place.

PHC starting line up: Shaquille Trott, Daren Usher, Mikey Lambe, Na’eem Griffith, DeAndre Smith-Lightbourne, Rakeem DeShields, Tre Ming, Marquel Waldron, Keishon Bean, Cecoy Robinson. Substitutes: – Calvin Thomas, Jalun Hassell, Shakhai Trott, Zakitah Lee, Kole Hall, Kushae Hypolite, Jahiem Iris, Diondre Dowling, Omari Tucker

Dandy Town starting line up: Jaiden Manders, K’Wonde Lathan, Kwame Steede, Lynn Emery, Eusebio Blankendal, Kyle Wade, Damon Ming, Tre Manders, Azendae Furbert, Angelo Simmons, Michael Parsons. Substitutes: – Seoin Darrell, Jahnazae Swan, Kemon Simmons, Jahtino Richardson-Martin, Nizigh Spence, Diione Millett, Treadwell Gibbons, Isaiah Blankendal, Edry Moore

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