PHC Zebras 2 Robin Hood 1

PHC Zebras claimed a second successive Charity Cup with a 2-1 win over Robin Hood thanks to a brace by Cecoy Robinson at Bernard Park yesterday.

The PHC captain notched either side of half-time to nullify a strike from Hood debutant Tomiko Goater.

Robinson was pleased with the victory but believes his team were lacking in certain areas.

“We were not as sharp in possession as we normally are, but I’m sure we will improve on that as the season progresses,” Robinson said.

“I always try to get off the mark as early in the season as possible to get in a good flow. I was able to do that and help the team achieve a positive result.

John Barry Nusum, the Hood coach, was content with his team’s performance but felt they could have been a more ruthless in front of goal.

“We played well but we were not clinical enough,” he said. “We missed some really good opportunities right before conceding both goals. If you don’t capitalise on your opportunities, you often end up being punished at the other end.”

It was an open affair from the outset, with both teams getting some early chances.

Rakeem Deshields almost opened the scoring with a clever flick from inside the penalty area that rebounded off the woodwork. At the other end, Lejuan Simmons found space on the right side of the box twice in the space of two minutes but Quinaceo Hunt, the PHC goalkeeper, was able to parry one effort away while Simmons pulled the second effort wide.

Those misses came back to haunt Hood moments later Robinson got on the end of a long diagonal ball and gently lobbed his effort over Hood goalkeeper Dale Eve, who could only watch as the ball dropped just inside his far post.

Hood then had a several good opportunities to level.

Jaylon Bather had a header cleared off the line, and Shakir Smith should have done better at the back post effort after being picked out by a pinpoint cross from Simmons.

They eventually pulled level when forward Goater tapped in a glancing header from defender Phillip Parsons from corner.

Hood carried their momentum into the second half, and in the early stages looked to be the most likely to score again.

The attacking trio of Goater, Simmons and Russell all had good looks at goal but were either unable to find the target, or denied by the reflexes of the Hunt. In the 82nd minute Hood were again made to pay for their profligacy when young Jahim Iris picked out Robinson.

He made no mistake, planting his header into the bottom corner to seal the victory and hand PHC the first piece of silverware of the season.

TEAMS

PHC Zebras: Q Hunt — D Usher, N Griffith, R DeShields, T Ming, M Waldron, M Warren, K Matthie (sub: N Edwards, 62min), C Robinson, J Iris (sub: O Tucker, 90), K Abraham (sub: D Dowling 82). Substitutes not used: M Lambe, D Davis, D Smith-Lightbourne, Z Ming-Wilson. Booked: Usher.

Robin Hood: D Eve — J Bather, P Parsons (sub: L Symonds, 77), C Castle (sub: J Pereira, 46), A Russell, L Simmon, M Burchall (sub: E Outerbridge, 68), D Andrade, A Nelson, S Smith, T Goater. Substitutes not used: T Bean, J Nusum.

Referee: M Wyer.