Robin Hood 1

Devonshire Cougars 0

The senseless sending-off Corey Boyce marred Robin Hood’s hard-fought victory over Devonshire Cougars at Goose Gosling Field on Saturday night.

After playing an integral role in what was an inspirational win, the centre half’s hard work went down the drain when he received a second caution after the final whistle had blown for directing abusive language at referee Elihu Holmes.

After receiving red for a second bookable offence, Boyce then had to be restrained by team-mates near the Robin Hood bench as he attempted to confront the referee.

It was an ugly and unfortunate ending to a game that Hood did just enough to win against a Cougars side who paid the price for wasting far too many chances.

The visiting side enjoyed plenty of possession but lacked cutting edge in the attacking third of the pitch.

A first-half penalty miss by Moses Steede perhaps best summed up Cougars’ frustration on the night.

This match proved to be very physical affair, with Holmes booking nine players before handing Boyce his marching orders after the final whistle.

Not much separated the teams in the first half, with clear-cut chances far and few between.

After making a series probing attacks, Cougars were awarded a penalty after striker Domico Coddington was tripped up in the box by Boyce.

But Hood were let off the hook when Steede dragged his spot-kick wide of the left upright.

The home side threatened at the other end, with striker Antwan Russell having the ball cleared off his feet inside the box as he shaped up to shoot and Tre Dill chipping over an empty goal from 20 yards out.

Drewonde Bascome, the midfielder, curled a free kick just over the bar as Cougars tried to get a foothold in the match.

Hood were more aggressive and organised in the second half. They demonstrated good ball movement and were always a threat with the pace of Russell on the break.

The goal that ultimately separated the two teams arrived from a soft free kick that Cougars conceded deep in their own half. Jaylon Bather, the Hood midfielder, sent in a cross that was misjudged by Kioshi Trott, the goalkeeper, and dropped into the back of the net.

The game opened up after Bather put Hood’s noses out in front, with both teams carving out chances.

Jahke Smith, the Cougars midfielder, shot wide from an angle, while Bather had a long-range effort saved by Trott.

Coddington had a shot from close range blocked and Smith just failed to get boot to a Darius Cox cross at the back post as Cougars pressed for an equaliser.

Coddington also headed a Cox free kick over the bar and then had another effort blocked by Jason Simons, the Hood goalkeeper, who raced off his line to clear the danger.

Hood came close to extending their lead when Bather’s diving header sailed just past the left upright and Shawn Brown, the midfielder, drew a fine save from Trott at the near post.

The home side suffered a setback when Russell limped off with an hamstring injury two minutes from the end of regulation time. But by then the damage had already been done, as Hood held firm before Boyce dampened the post-game celebrations.