Robin Hood 2 Southampton Rangers 2

Southampton Rangers overturned a two-goal deficit to earn a hard-fought draw with Premier Division leaders Robin Hood in an entertaining match at Goose Gosling Field on Saturday night.

Tre Ming’s 77th-minute spot-kick levelled the score a couple of minutes after Danté Leverock, the Bermuda captain, had to be substituted with a calf injury.

With Hood reduced to ten men by the sending-off of Kion Knights for a second bookable offence, Rangers might have gone on to snatch an unlikely three points, but coach Jomar Wilkinson was satisfied merely to halt a two-game losing streak.

“I was definitely pleased with my team’s character tonight,” he said. “We took the game to them and created enough chances to win.

“Take away the penalty we gave up and the lazy clearance to give Leverock his goal, we would have outscored them. This was a great improvement from the last two games we played and I am pleased with the result.”

The game’s opening goal came courtesy of the new handball rule in the 37th minute. Justin Corday’s free kick was blocked by a hand from the Rangers wall inside the box, leaving referee Anthony Francis no choice but to apply the rule and award a penalty. Liam Evans calmly placed his shot to the right of Rangers goalkeeper Shaquille Bean’s outstretched arm.

Leverock ensured Hood would lead as half-time approached when he made a desperate lunge to block Jarazhino Bassett’s goalbound shot after he had been played through by substitute Quadir Maynard.

Hood enjoyed a spell of possession after the break and doubled their lead when Leverock picked up a loose ball from a Justin Bell corner to drill hard and low into the right corner.

Rangers introduced Dion Stovell into their attack and his presence had an immediate impact. They would open their account soon after when forward Keishon Wilson outmuscled Jaylon Bather to get to a through-ball before slotting the ball under the advancing Jahquil Hill in the Hood goal, with appeals for a foul ignored by referee Francis.

Hill was called into action to preserve Hood’s lead twice within two minute when he saved with his feet to deny the dangerous Wilson.

However, there was nothing he could do to prevent the equaliser.

Rangers were happy to see the back of the injured Leverock, scoring within two minutes of his departure. Stovell was bundled over from behind by Knights as he headed for goal on one of his daunting runs, and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty before sending the Hood defender for an early shower.

Ming secured a hard-earned point for Rangers, as his low spot-kick nestled into the bottom right corner.

Hood coach John Barry Nusum could not hide his disappointment with the standard of officiating. “The ref played a big part in the outcome of the game tonight,” he said. “We were up 2-0 and playing some decent football and the first goal they get, it was a clear push on my player in the box and they scored.”

Nusum added: “Sometimes you have to live with refs that make decisions like that, and we didn’t adjust. To Rangers’ credit, they put some pressure on us, as 2-1 is a dangerous score. Overall, I am proud of my guys for holding on to the draw.”

SCORERS

Robin Hood: Evans 37, Leverock 51.

Southampton: Wilson 60, T Ming 77.

TEAMS

Robin Hood (4-1-4-1): J Hill — K Knights, J Bather, D Leverock (sub: A Russell, 75min), T Bean (sub: L Steede, 46) — P Parsons — T Goater, J Corday, L Evans, J Bell — A Nelson (sub: C Brangman, 65). Substitutes not used: J Morrissey, E Outerbridge, N Outerbridge, C Ricca. Booked: Knights. Sent off: Knights.

Southampton Rangers (4-1-4-1): S Bean — K Harrison, R Sampson, M Burch (sub: T Manders, 21), M Nisbett-Tankard — D Brangman — C Henry (sub: Q Maynard, 31), V Perinchief (sub: D Stovell, 55), T Ming, J Bassett — K Wilson. Substitutes not used: S Perinchief, J Hill, D Frost. Booked: Sampson, Ming.

Referee: A Francis.