Robin Hood 2 X-Roads 1

Robin Hood matched the 39 points they amassed last season when they closed out their league campaign with a 2-1 victory over FA Cup opponents X-Roads at Goose Gosling Field last night.

Hood left out three key players, captain Lejaun Simmons, Tomiko Goater and Shakir Smith because of the threat of another booking that would rule them out of next weekend’s final.

Another starter, Casey Castle, was also missing as coach John Barry Nusum, just back from overseas, played in defence alongside Jaylon Bather.

Hood had only two substitutes on the bench.

“We had three players who were on cards but then again that’s what a squad is for,” said Nusum, who did not intend on playing himself and came off in the end with a bloody knee.

“Guys who haven’t a run out got one tonight, which is good for team morale.

“Everybody made it through tonight, which was what we wanted, to have a good performance. We were solid and kept everything simple. All we wanted to do was get through the game with no injuries and no cards.”

X-Roads were also missing players as they also took a cautious approach. Hood took a comfortable 2-0 lead into the half after well-taken goals by Dominique Williams and captain Antwan Russell. Williams broke the deadlock with a shot on the turn from 22 yards that went into the far bottom corner, out of the reach of goalkeeper Dashun Cooper.

The best chance for X-Roads in the first half fell to top scorer Donavan Thompson who used his pace to put pressure on the defence before hurrying his shot and putting the effort wide. Moments later Thompson put a low shot just wide of the far post as X-Roads had another good chance to equalise.

Russell doubled the lead when he scored one of his best goals of the season in the 26th minute. He collected a pass 40 yards from goal and after one touch volleyed a superb effort over the head of Cooper who was out of his six-yard box and stranded as the ball dipped under the crossbar.

Hood continued to create the better chances and early in the second half Russell got between the advancing Cooper and a defender to collect a long ball into the box. His first-time chip towards an open goal from a sharp angle was headed clear at the near post by Jamin Furbert.

Goalkeeper Dale Eve, who went close to scoring himself when he ran upfield to take a free kick from outside the box and lifted his effort just over the crossbar.

X-Roads’ persistence finally paid off four minutes from the end. Eve’s kick upfield was weak and Jorge Sanchez collected the ball 25 yards from goal before placing his shot over the goalkeeper who was off his line.

n In the First Division game, Flanagan’s Onions closed out their season with a fourth straight win after beating St David’s 3-2.

Daniel Lehner opened the scoring in the third minute before Justin Pitcher equalised in the fourteenth. Two goals by Mikale Williams in the 60th and 68th minute restored the Onions lead before Kamali Davis scored a second goal for St David’s in the 74th minute.

Goals

Robin Hood: Williams 15, Russell 26

X-Roads: Sanchez 86

Teams

Robin Hood (4-3-3): D Eve — T Bean (sub: J Pereira, 64min), J Bather, J Nusum, E Outerbridge — D Williams (sub: D Andrade, 76), L Symonds, A Nelson — A Russell, C Ricca, T Sabir.

X-Roads (4-4-2): D Cooper — L Simmons, J Furbert, K Wilkinson, R Beek (sub: T Lowe, 77) — P Richardson, S Thomas (sub: M McGowan, 57) N Richardson, Q Darrell (sub: J Minks, 57) — D Thompson, J Sanchez. Substitutes not used: T Daniels, K Talbot.

Referee: A Francis.