Robin Hood 0 North Village 2

North Village continued their climb up the Premier Division tables, moving up to fifth with their second win over the Christmas period last night at Goose Gosling Field.

Two first half goals were enough to secure the points for the Rams as opponents Robin Hood did not have the same spark in them that was shown in their last outing against league leaders Dandy Town on Wednesday, when they went down 2-1 to an injury time winner.

The second match for Hood in the space of four days took a toll on their squad as they were forced to make four changes to the team that played Town, leaving them with just three subs on their bench. Both their substitutions were as a result of injuries as youngster Tristan Frias limped off in the 33rd minute to be replaced by another youngster, Brighton Morrison.

Hood were already trailing on the five minute mark when Dante Leverock deflected a shot from Justin Bell into his own goal.

Village scored their second goal through a Z’chai Jennings-Barnett header at the back post following a corner on the left by Jakeem Jennings.

It got worst for Hood at half time when player-coach Leverock withdrew following a calf injury, with Liam Evans, one of the four changes in the starting line-up, switching to centre back to fill in for Leverock, as youngster Tajai Goater started the second half.

Hood looked more threatening following the restart, though Detre Bell in the Village goal was seldom tested, as they kept a clean sheet on their way to their fourth win of the season.

Injury also forced Village into their first substitution in the 61st minute when fullback Jennings-Barnett limped off and was replaced by Kyler Knights. It was around the time that Village were enjoying a good spell, though they could not add to their two-goal lead.

They made double substitutions in the 68th and 83rd minutes as they went looking for more goals, with Owen Botelho looking lively down the right flank after coming on with Pierre Smith in the first double change.

SCORERS

North Village: Leverock (og) 5; Jennings-Barnett 28

TEAMS

Robin Hood (4-3-3): M Holder 5 ‒ K Knights 5, D Leverock 5 (sub: T Goater 46, 5), N Furbert 6, D Cook 6 ‒ L Evans 6, T Francis 5 (sub: B Morrisey 33, 6), J’Kai Berkeley 5 ‒ C Brangman 6, A Nelson 6, E Outerbridge 6. Substitute not used: M Fullerton. Booked: Furbert.

North Village (4-3-3): D Bell 6 ‒ Z Jennings-Barnett 6 (sub: K Knights 61, 5), T Fray 6, I Simmons 6 (sub: L Outerbridge 83), J Harvey 6 ‒ D Daniels 7, Q Lema 6, J Richardson 6 (sub: P Smith 68 5) ‒ J Smith-DeShields 6, J Bell 6 (sub: S Robinson, 83), J Jennings 6 (O Botelho 68, 6). Substitutes not used: O DeShields, T Williams. Booked: Jennings.

Referee: D Jackson