PHC Zebras 1 Robin Hood 6

Tomiko Goater stole the limelight as Robin Hood stunned PHC Zebras in the opening round of Premier Division matches at PHC Field yesterday.

The match started with a very high tempo, and the home side opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a lovely finish by Shakori Trott, placing his shot into the bottom corner past goalkeeper Jahquil Hill.

The visitors replied very quickly when a ball by Justin Corday was directed to Goater; the winger cut inside and drove a shot low past Shaquille Trott to level the scores.

Last season’s Dudley Eve runners-up began to control the ball and territory soon after, as the home side made some careless mistakes. One such mistake led to the visitors going ahead. A decent cross by Justin Bell was headed down by Che Brangman, and struck hard by Corday towards goal. It deflected off the arm of Daren Usher and a penalty was rightly given.

Goater stepped up and lashed the spot kick off the post, yet Trott had stepped off his line, so the kick had to be taken again. On the second attempt, the forward made no mistake and slotted home.

The home side grew back into the game, and started to knock the ball around nicely without any real penetration. In another move just before half-time, Brangman dragged his header just over the bar from a decent cross by Bell.

Zebras continued to create chances, but did not take them, a few strikes hit the woodwork as the sides went in with all to play for.

Hood stepped it up at the beginning of the second period, doubling their advantage within five minutes of the restart. A beautiful flowing move saw a decent ball by Goater cut back for Ahria Simons, who settled and struck past Trott.

Substitute Aaron Nelson made it 4-1 when he struck home from just outside the box. Just after the hour mark, defender Usher nearly made amends for his mistake in the first half, but his near post header just flew over the bar from a corner.

The latter stages of the second half became more of a midfield battle, but Hood put the game beyond any doubt when Ereico Outerbridge beautifully placed an audacious chip past Trott after picking up the ball in space on the left flank.

Goater completed his hat-trick in very fortunate circumstances in the final few minutes. He stole a loose ball after a horrible lapse of communication between Trott and his defence and slotted into the empty net.

Zebras failed to create another chance as Hood held out for a dominant victory on opening day.

Hood captain Philip Parsons was pleased with the opening day performance.

“Good start to the season,” the holding midfielder said. “They are a quality team, with a young squad.

“We never come into any game thinking it is easy. It is always nice to earn a dominant win, we will build from it.”

Meanwhile, Goater affirmed that Hood must keep pushing forward.

“I am confident in the team,” the 24-year-old said. “We must keep grounded and keep working hard.”

SCORERS

PHC: Trott

Hood: Goater 9, 14 pen, 90+2, Simons 50, Nelson 57, Outerbridge 80

TEAMS

PHC Zebras (4-2-3-1): Shaquille Trott — D Usher, N Griffith, Z Lee, J Hassell — M Joell, E Russell (sub: J Joseph 76) — D Smith-Lightbourne, M Warren, S Trott (sub: O Tucker 89) — K Bean (sub: K Hypolite 70). Substitutes not used: C Fubler, M Lambe, J Sealey, J Lines. Booked: Z Lee.

Robin Hood (4-2-3-1): J Hill — K Knights, J Bather, C Castle (sub: T Bean 75), A Simons — P Parsons, L Evans — J Bell, J Corday (sub: E Outerbridge 70), T Goater — C Brangman (sub: A Nelson 57). Substitutes not used: Morrissey, T Frias, A Russell. Booked: Bell, Simons.

Referee: L Christopher.