North Village 2

Robin Hood 1

North Village Rams, featuring two Rangers Academy coaches, claimed a hard-fought victory over Robin Hood in the Bistro Cup final at Goose Gosling Field on Saturday.

Craig McGregor and Erald Krasniqi, visiting the Island as part of the Rangers School Camp, hosted by Village, both played integral roles in their adopted team’s victory.

Village took the lead early on when Krasniqi, a powerful striker, delivered a dangerous cross that was diverted into the net by the outstretched boot of Aljame Zuill, the former Bermuda striker, who was substituted in the second half with a head injury.

In the second half, goalkeeper McGregor preserved his Village’s lead by saving a penalty from Rohaan Simons, the former Southampton Rangers striker.

The assistant referee flagged for the kick to be retaken, believing McGregor had moved off the goalline before the kick was taken, but the referee overruled the decision much to the Hood players’ frustrations. Simmons, who headed against the crossbar from a corner, then found the equaliser on 75 minutes with a close-range header.

The impressive Krasniqi then won Village a penalty, cleverly inviting a challenge from Hood defender Brian Fubler, with Ralph Bean, Village’s Premier Division team’s coach, calmly converting on 80 minutes.

While it is understood that by selecting McGregor and Krasniqi, Village did not flout any of Corona League rules, the disgruntlement expressed by some of the Hood players that their opponents had picked a “pair of ringers” had some justification.

Randy Spence, the Village captain, praised McGregor and Krasniqi for their impressive performances.

“The [Scottish coaches] did a great job,” said Spence, whose side lifted the Bistro Cup for a second time. “We needed a good goalkeeper and we got one today. They both did well. Preparation and discipline was the key for us. A lot of our players are yesteryear players, but we have a good group and knew we had to do a lot of running to keep up with Hood.

“We knew the second goal was going to come and to be fair we missed a few chances.”