Robin Hood 3 Somerset Eagles 2

Holders Robin Hood advanced to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup yesterday when Ereico Outerbridge drove home an 89th-minute winner from inside the box at Goose Gosling Field.

It was a deserved win for Hood, but they had to work hard for the victory after throwing away a two-goal lead inside three minutes in the second half. Hood also beat Somerset Eagles in the first round last season, 4-1 at White Hill Field.

They took the lead in the eleventh minute when Colin Ryan was tripped inside the box by Kieran Evans and Tomiko Goater blasted his spot-kick low to goalkeeper Jermaine Rumley’s right.

The best chance for Eagles in the first half came just before the break when a good move saw Ethan Fubler cross into the six-yard box where Nathan Rego just failed to make contact.

Hood brought on the late arriving Lejuan Simmons early in the second half, while Eagles made a double substitution soon after.

However, it was Hood who scored the second goal, a well-struck free kick from 22 yards by Dominique Williams, the ball grazing the base of the near post before going over the line.

“We had to bounce back, we’ve been letting in easy goals, but a win’s a win and we’re happy about it,” said the former Dandy Town defender, referring to Hood’s recent stutter in the league where they had three straight draws, including one against Eagles.

“They made it tricky because they have a couple of decent players who caused some problems. They could easily have nicked something, but I’m glad we got the win. I’m happy for the goal, happy with the win, but we need a trophy,”

A dramatic turnaround saw Eagles level the score just when it seemed victory was in the bag for Hood. Marcelos Thomas, a substitute, scored with his first touch a minute after coming on.

He met an Anwar Telford pass and lobbed a first-time shot under the crossbar at the far post, giving goalkeeper Jason Simons no chance.

Minutes later it was 2-2, when Ryan was handled. Telford, the Eagles captain, made no mistake from the penalty spot.

However, Hood avoided extra time and penalty kicks when Outerbridge smashed his effort from just inside the box into the far corner with a minute to go.

“Hopefully, we hit a run now,” Williams said.

TEAMS

Robin Hood (4-5-1): J Simons — C Castle, J Bather, D Williams, S Smith — P Parsons, C Ryan, T Goater, A Nelson (sub: L Simmons, 56min), E Outerbridge (sub: N Outerbridge, 89) — A Russell. Substitutes not used: L Evans, J Pereira, T Tyrell, J Nusum.

Somerset Eagles (4-4-2): J Rumley — S Lambert, L Burch, K Evans, M Iris-Simmons — E Fubler (sub: C Madeiros, 63), D Simmons, A Telford, R Woodley-Smith (sub: N Thomas, 72) — N Rego, T Wade (sub: C Smith, 63). Booked: Fubler, Simmons.

Referee: T Simons.