Danny Joseph slots home past Nick Messum from the penalty spot to give the Rebels a 2-1 win over the Wolues. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Joel Williams reacted fastest to a lose ball to open the scoring for the Rebels after just 45 seconds of the second half. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

The overall lasting memory of the game will be of the woeful finishing from both sides, but the Rebels won't mind as they took home all 3 points in the end. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

A cross from the Rebels left by Bryan Smith saw both Alex Jarvis and Joel Williams leap for the header, but as both missed the ball it struck the outstretched arm of Jarvis, leaving no option for the referee to point to the spot despite vociferous complaints from the Wolues.

Danny Joseph remained calm under some gamesmanship and left Nick Messum wrong footed to score what was to prove the winner in an evenly matched encounter with few clear cut chances at either end. So few in fact that the first half ended scoreless, although to be fair the Wolues were hampered by being down to ten following an early injury to keeper Elliot Doucy. His knee injury led to Messum taking over between the uprights.

Whilst the Wolues were strong in defense, their usual creative outlet of James Shearman found his passing radar off target and the Rebels were able to control the midfield. However, despite the majority of possession their shooting was woeful and they only had a shot from Michael Facey that bounced to safety off the crossbar to show for their first half efforts.

At the other end, Mervyn Francis was a virtual bystander, although he had to be at his best to block a shot from Declan Cassidy that swerved viciously goal bound following a long ball from Jarvis.

After the break it took the Rebels just 45 seconds to do what they couldn’t do during the first 45 minutes when Williams latched onto a horrible mistake from Messum, who allowed a tame shot to bobble and bounce of his body. As he scrambled to make amends, Williams beat him to the ball and fired it into the back of the nets to open the scoring.

Warning signs of an equalizer for the Wolues came halfway through the half with Omari Scott’s running caused much problems. He had come on at the break and Cassidy dropped deeper to bolster the midfield giving the Wolues more attacking options.

Francis was alert again when a Scott header arrowed goalward only for the keeper to tip it onto the bar and away for a corner. The corner was half cleared, but fell to Cassidy who laid the ball wide to Shearman. He beat the defender and laid the perfect cross into the box where Scott had no hesitation in firing home to level the scores at 1-1.

The game opened up with both side looking for the winner, but again any further goals looked unlikely.

Then, the moment of controversy, at least for the Wolues, with the penalty award and the calm finish from Joseph to seal the points and a 2-1 score line.

The last few minutes of regulation time and three minutes of added time led to a frenzied finish with the Wolues still unable to create too much danger and Nigel Welsh of the Rebels guilty of the game’s final wayward shot as he dragged his shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

The finish summed up the game nicely with both sides needing to improve on their finishing skills.

In other results over the weekend the Panthers beat VG United 2-1, Old Madrid overcame East End 1-0 courtesy of a goal from Dion Clarke, the Sugar Boys defeated the Ballstars 2-1. Jovan Wallace and Clint St. Hilaire scored for the home side whilst Trevor Ellis pulled one back for the Ballstars and Haitian Stars were edged out 1-nil in a tough battle with One Love.