Robin Hood 3 BAA 1

Robin Hood have reached a third FA Cup final in four years after a convincing win over BAA in the semi-final at PHC Field yesterday.

Lejaun Simmons struck a double salvo inside of six minutes to put the defending champions in control at the break and then set up Casey Castle on the hour mark to put the game beyond reach.

Nathan Rego had reduced the deficit for BAA at 2-0, with his team looking to reach their first FA Cup final since 1958 when they lost to Wellington Rovers.

Timmy Figureido, Hood’s caretaker coach in the absence of player-coach John Barry Nusum, was delighted with his side’s victory.

“The game plan was to win no matter how pretty or ugly it was,” the former Bermuda goalkeeper said. “We just wanted to get the job done and have the opportunity to defend our trophy.”

Hood will meet X-Roads, who beat Dandy Town on penalties in the first semi-final on Saturday night.

The two finalists will also face each other in their Premier Division season finale at Goose Gosling Field on Thursday night.

“We’re trying to avoid injuries and cards, and hopefully we will have a fully fit team in two weeks’ time,” Figureido added.

Having thrashed BAA 10-2 in the previous meeting between the two sides, Hood went into the tie as overwhelming favourites.

However, it took them longer than they probably anticipated to break down their opponents, who packed numbers behind the ball. Hood’s relentless pressure eventually paid off, though, as BAA lost their shape and Simmons pounced to make the breakthrough.

Midfielder Tomiko Goater sliced the defence open with a delightful pass which Simmons raced onto and glided inside of the far bottom corner.

BAA had hardly began picking up the pieces when Simmons struck again shortly after to put Hood further in front.

Shakir Smith gathered Goater’s pass and after drawing BAA goalkeeper Marcus Brangman off his line rolled the ball to Simmons who smashed home from close range.

Hood should have been out of sight by the interval, however, Aaron Nelson, Jaylon Bather and Goater were unable to capitalise on chances.

BAA rallied after the break and pulled a goal back through Rego after Smith failed to make the most of a free header from Bather’s inch-perfect cross at the other end.

Keishen Bean’s shot from a tight angle was parried by Hood goalkeeper Dale Eve and Rego drilled in the loose ball to cut the deficit.

However, Castle stopped BAA’s revival when he ran on to Simmons’s defence-splitting pass and beat Brangman at the near post.

Hood nearly extended their lead when Smith struck the woodwork.

SCORERS

Robin Hood

Simmons 26, 32

Castle 64

BAA

Rego 51

TEAMS

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

BAA (4-1-4-1): M Brangman — N Gibbons (sub: V Capitillo, 85min), Q Lema, T Tucker, Z Robinson (sub: A McDowell, 46) — T Burgess, L Roberts, N Rego, K Bean, D Bascome — R Murphy (sub: L Thomas, 66). Substitutes not used: A Carvelho.

Referee: G Swainson.