Robin Hood 4 PHC Zebras 0

Robin Hood moved a step closer to earning a second successive FA Cup title as they ran away with a convincing victory over PHC Zebras at Goose Gosling Field last night.

John Barry Nusum, the Hood coach, was impressed with his team’s performance and feels the result could do a lot for their confidence.

“We have played PHC a number of times over the course of the season, and come up short more than we probably should have,” Nusum said. “The victory puts us in a good position in the competition, but also builds a little confidence for the next time we meet them in a couple of weeks.”

The Zebras were on the back foot from the start and never really recovered after conceding early on.

“We talked about starting the game at a good pace and forcing them to play quicker,” he added. “I think we executed that well and set the standard in the first five minutes.”

Hood made their intentions known as early as the first minute when Tomiko Goater had a shot from the edge of the box go just wide of the post.

Moments later, Hood came even closer when Lejaun Simmons met Shakir Smith’s low cross at the back post, but goalkeeper Shaquille Trott made a fine save, Trott, however, would bring problems on himself in the fifteenth minute when his attempted pass to a defender was picked off by Simmons who dribbled into the box and squared for Antwan Russell to stroke home.

Simmons then had an opportunity to double the lead, but shot over the crossbar with his attempted chip with only the goalkeeper to beat.

The home team were still in control and five minutes before the interval Goater was on hand to finish off a pass from Smith after a good build-up.

Hood continued to be dangerous, particularly on the counter attack, and were unlucky not to extend their lead when Smith’s diving header from came off the crossbar. The third goal came midway through the half, when Goater slipped through Colin Ryan, who calmly placed his shot into the bottom corner.

Russell then piled on the misery for PHC, doubling his tally in similar fashion, as he broke free and slotted the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper to complete the rout.

SCORERS

Robin Hood: Russell 15 81, Goater 40, Ryan 66

TEAMS

Robin Hood: D Eve — C Castle (sub: E Outerbridge, 87), J Bathe, D Williams, J Pereira, S Smith, P Parsons, C Ryan (sub: A Nelson, 83), T Goater (sub: L Symonds, 87), L Simmons, A Russell. Substitutes not used: T Bean, T Sabir. Booked: Bather, Williams.

PHC Zebras: S Trott — D Usher, M Lambe (sub: K Matthie 65), R Deshields, S Trott, T Ming, M Waldron, K Hypolite (sub: Z Lee, 71), M Warren, J Iris, C Robinson (sub: D Smith-Lightbourne, 86). Substitutes not used: C Thomas, M Simmons, Z Ming-Wilson, J Sealy. Booked: Warren.

Referee: A Francis.