Hollands & Blair 1-0 Phoenix

Phoenix fall to a sixth league defeat in seven games despite dominant performance

Chris Wood ©

Phoenix Sports suffered another  frustrating 1-0 defeat, this time at Hollands & Blair, as Kane Rowland’s late goal settled a match the visitors had largely controlled.

Ahkeem Belford made his return to Phoenix and was immediately restored to the starting line-up, while fellow returnee Lyle Della Verde was named among the substitutes. Billy Muckle was handed his debut.

Phoenix almost opened the scoring after eight minutes when goalkeeper Ryan McCourt’s excellent long pass released Steve Townsend. The winger cut inside from the left before crashing a powerful effort against the underside of the crossbar.

Khayrie Harris was next to threaten, racing through down the right and attempting to lift the ball over the goalkeeper, only to send his lobbed effort narrowly over.

The chances continued to come. Harris fired across goal shortly after the half-hour mark and the ball was somehow cleared from underneath the crossbar with Townsend ready to convert.

Phoenix went even closer before the interval. Harris, a regular threat, saw a shot deflected narrowly wide before Jamarie Brissett flicked the resulting corner inches past the post, leaving the visitors wondering how they had not taken a lead into half-time.

Townsend immediately returned to the attack after the restart, cutting inside and firing wide inside the opening minute of the second half.

Louie Downey replaced Riccardo Thompson after 55 minutes, before Phoenix passed up another excellent opportunity when Harris picked out Brissett inside the penalty area, but the forward lifted his effort over the bar.

Hollands & Blair did not register their first meaningful chance until the 70th minute, when Kane Rowland fired straight at McCourt.

Phoenix introduced Della Verde and Harry Barnes in place of Lee Bird and Muckle before Harris tested home goalkeeper Ellis with another effort from outside the area.

Despite Phoenix creating the better opportunities, it was the hosts who found the decisive goal nine minutes from time. Mo Cham produced a strong run down the right and delivered for Rowland, who flicked the ball home to put Hollands & Blair ahead.

Phoenix were unable to find a late response, bringing a frustrating afternoon to an end as a dominant performance went unrewarded.