PHC Zebras 0 Robin Hood 0

Robin Hood were left ruing missed opportunities after being held to a goalless draw by PHC Zebras at PHC Field on Saturday.

Hood enjoyed the superior swathes of possession, particularly in the first period, with Tomiko Goater causing the home side all manner of problems, but they failed to capitalise on their dominance as PHC dropped their first points of the season.

The lively Goater went close in midway through the first half, hitting a first-time effort over the bar after defender Jaylon Bather steered the ball back into the area following a dangerous left-wing cross by Shakir Smith.

Goater, who orchestrated much of Hood’s good work, playing between the lines, delivered a swirling free kick which evaded the outstretched boot of Antwan Russell, who then forced a save from Shaquille Trott, the PHC goalkeeper.

Trott more than made up for his lack of height for a goalkeeper with his impressive athleticism, making a handful of important saves to prevent Hood claiming the victory their play probably deserved.

PHC made a bright start to the second half but were unable to trouble Dale Eve, Hood goalkeeper, with the visiting side, — missing winger Lejuan Simmons as he serving a six-month ban from playing at PHC Field, — soon reclaiming control and looking the most likely to break the deadlock.

Goater again threatened with a misdirected header from an Aaron Nelson cross before Rakeem DeShields, the PHC captain, blocked a goal-bound effort from Smith late on.

John Barry Nusum, the Hood coach, believed his side created more than enough chances to win the game.

“We needed three points and we were looking to get the three points,” said Nusum, whose side remain a point behind second-place PHC, despite playing a game more.

“The amount of chances we created, I think we deserved the three points. Both teams worked hard and it was a hard-fought game. But the chances fell to us and it’s tough to have to take a point.”

Nusum felt his side needed to show more patience and care in the final third.

“Things just didn’t go for us in front of goal,” he added. “We were just too rushed in our play when we tried to attack.

“We defended well, we pressed well; we did all of the other phases of the game well. We just didn’t finish it off.”

Scott Morton, the PHC coach, said praised his side’s disciplined defending and said he was content with a share of the spoils.

“It was an evenly fought match,” Morton said. “We stayed resilient and didn’t concede any goals, which is always a big goal of ours.

“It wasn’t the best match for us. We can play a lot better than that. Hood have match-winners across the pitch and they’re well coached. It’s been a beautiful start to the season and we’re still undefeated.”

TEAMS

PHC Zebras (4-3-3): S Trott — D Usher, R DeShields, D Smith-Lightbourne, M Waldron — D Dowling (sub: D Lodge, 79min), J Sealey, T Ming — M Simmons, S Trott, J Iris. Substitutes not used: T Place, M Lambe, C Robinson, N Edwards, Z Ming-Wilson, Z Lee. Booked: DeShields.

Robin Hood (4-3-3): D Eve — J Pereira, J Bather, D Williams, J Bather, A Nelson (sub: D Andrade, 85min) — P Parsons, C Ryan, T Goater — C Caisey (sub: E Outerbridge, 78), A Russell, S Smith. Substitutes not used: T Bean, L Symonds.Booked: Ryan, Bathers.

Referee: G Swainson.