Flanagan’s Onions 0 Robin Hood 3

Robin Hood advanced to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a comfortable 3-0 win over Flanagan’s Onions at Goose Gosling Field on Saturday night.

Two goals from Lejuan Simmons, the captain, and one from Nathan Peskett were sufficient to see Hood through.

The scoreline did not reflect the dominance of Hood. It could have been more had it not been for a lack of clinical finishing with the last touch.

Onions did not help their cause either as they only showed up with 13 players with their main striker, Keston Lewis, starting on the bench. By time he entered the pitch in the 72nd minute, it was too little, too late.

From as early as the seventh minute, Robin Hood threatened the Onions goal when an Antwan Russell corner to the back-post was met with a point-blank header from Jaylon Bather, but was cleared of the line by an Onions defender. This would serve notice of things to come and it was no surprise when Robin Hood took the lead minutes later.

Onions goalkeeper Lejaun Matthews and defender Chejon Berkeley had a mix-up resulting in Matthews mistiming his jump for the ball. The ball eluded his outstretched arm and landed at the feet of Simmons, who controlled the ball and placed his shot in an empty net. Russell would then send a penetrating ball through to Simmons whose low cross went untouched across the goalmouth.

Simmons would then be on the end of a beautiful pass from Daniel Andrade but his chip shot beat the keeper only to skim of the crossbar and out of play. Onions came close to scoring when hard-working striker, Shaki Swan played a diagonal ball to overlapping captain, Treshun Smith but his cross was cleared from danger by Jason Titterton.

Hood would take a 2-0 lead with a beautiful build-up involving Russell, Ereico Outerbridge and Simmons. Simmons miskicked his first attempt but the ball stayed at his feet. He made no mistake with his second attempt as he planted a firm shot pass the diving Matthews.

Onions almost scored just before the half, when Omar Wilson picked up a loose ball, dribbled past one defender and struck his shot on the run only to see the ball roll pass Timmy Figureido’s upright by inches.

The second half started as it had ended with Robin Hood dominating play. Another good build-up involving four Hood players saw Shakir Smith draw Onions keeper Matthews to the near post before sending in a low cross that Peskett did well to steer the ball home while sliding in.

Onions would come close to scoring late in the game when, sub Lewis sent in a cross that deflected to Nicholas Dunkle but he shot over the top when well placed.