Bermuda Hogges 1

Charlotte Eagles 4

A series of defensive mishaps ensured Bermuda Hogges' hunt for a victory continues with high-flying Charlotte Eagles soaring away with a 4-1 victory at the National Stadium.

The USL Division-2 table-toppers cruelly exposed the Hogges hapless defence with a brand of route-one football, which they must learn to deal with if they are to hatch from the embryonic stage of their franchise development.

Time and time again, their fluent and, sometimes, creative attacking play was undermined by a hopeful hoof, outlining the extent of surgery still needed to bring their defensive play up to scratch.

However, in terms of passing and movement they were arguably more expansive, and attractive, than their more experienced opponents, making a mockery of their basement dweller position.

But in truth the score-line could have been far more emphatic, had it not been for the profligacy of the Eagles strikers and the breathtaking heroics of Hogges keeper Timmy Figureido, who saved his side's blushes with a string of fine saves.

And it was no surprise when the Eagles finally broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time when the league's leading scorer Jacob Croggins latched on to a long ball before steering home from close range.

The floodgates opened in the second period with Croggins bagging a brace, before Dustin Swinehart cleverly flicked the ball, back to goal, beyond Figureido from a swirling cross.

Substitute Kwame Steede reduced the deficit for the Hogges in what was a fine cameo display by the side's skipper who made an impressive return from injury. But Matthew Spencer hammered home for the visitors in the dying seconds to ensure it was a not night to remember for the hundreds of supporters who turned out to cheer their side on.

Yet regardless of the score-line there were still positives they could take home from the encounter, like the happy feet of Damon Ming leading the Eagles back-line to a merry-dance, and the plethora of problems caused by Lashun Dill's pace and penetration.

In fact, the Hogges did enjoy large swathes of possession throughout the encounter, but sadly inexperience left them open to the proverbial sucker punch.

And boy did the Eagles throw a flurry of combination blows during the early rounds of the fight, crafting numerous chances which should, have seen them out of sight.

Hurling a long ball towards the forehead of colossal targetman Coggins as quick as humanly possibly was definitely Plan A in the Eagles attacking blueprint.

Whether they possessed a Plan B will remain an unanswered as their initial strategy caused so much damage and hesitancy in the Hogges defence.

Far too often they were caught hopelessly flat and on numerous occasions they forced to scramble back in desperation with the Eagles' long ball game catching the Hogges hopelessly square.

At times coach Kyle Lightbourne prowled the touchline like scolded cat through frustration as he tried to relay his messages onto the field of play.

At least the late introduction of legendary striker Shaun Goater had the Hogges supporters crooning, but ironically it was their back-line rather than front which seemed in need of the parental guidance.