North Village 3 Robin Hood 0

North Village Rams outplayed a youthful Robin Hood outfit at Bernard Park yesterday to leapfrog overnight leaders PHC and regain pole position in the Premier Division.

The losing finalists in the Friendship Trophy on New Year’s Day made a statement of intent as early as the second minute when Z’Dao Dill threatened to score after cutting inside to hit a left-footed drive, which Robin Hood goalkeeper Joshua Roberts did well to cradle into his arms.

Minutes later, Jaziel Smith-DeShields played Amir Dill through but Roberts was equal to the task to push the firm drive to safety. Village’s consistent pressure paid off in the 24th minute when Justin Bell controlled a free kick from deep before laying off to Owen Botelho, whose firm shot from 20 yards beat Roberts for pace as it sailed into the roof of the net.

Robin Hood had one opportunity to score but Malachi Henry’s weak effort was easily saved by Village goalkeeper Andrew Kempe, who had a relatively quiet day, and the home side were guilty of numerous first-half misses from close range with Botelho the main culprit but his strike mattered most as they took a deserved lead into the break.

Village nearly scored directly from the restart when

Amir Dill played a diagonal cross to Smith-DeShields but Roberts did well to shadow his moves before blocking his eventual shot.

But it did not take long for them to double their lead when Terryn Fray’s free kick from 35 yards in the 50th minute bounced untouched through a maze of players to nestle in the corner of the net with Roberts unsighted.

With momentum in Village’s favour, Hood were left to play second fiddle but they nearly replied midway through the half when Chance Eve made a good run inside from the right flank but he shot into the side netting as Kempe had the near post covered.

Hood player-coach Detroy Smith was introduced in the second half and went into referee Dwight Jackson’s book shortly after for dissent as tackles became reckless and tempers started to flare before Village captain Jalen Harvey scored the goal of the game to close out the scoring.

Harvey dispossessed his marker with a “Jamaican roll” before dribbling and unleashing a thunderous shot from the top of the box and giving goalkeeper Roberts no chance to close. The goal was worth the yellow card for taking off his shirt in his celebration.

Just as referee Jackson blew the final whistle to end the game, coach Smith picked up the ball and blasted it over into the nearby field to receive his second yellow card.

“This was a good response and bounce back after our disappointing New Year’s Day loss,” stated Village coach Kenny Thompson. “We had to win to go back to the top and there are eight rounds to go. The spirit in the team is high as we came off a fantastic week in training and our performance showed today.”

The loss keeps Robin Hood anchored to the bottom of the Premier League.

Scorers

North Village: Botelho 24, Fray 50, Harvey 64

TEAMS

North Village Rams (4-2-3-1): A Kempe 6 --- J Harvey 7 (sub: A Dos Santos, 68min 5), T Fray 6, K Knights 6, T Bean 6 --- K Harrison 6, A Dill 7 --- Z Dill 7 (sub: J Jennings, 64 5), O Botelho 7, J Bell 7 (sub: N Smith, 82) --- J Smith-DeShields. Substitutes not used: T Williams, I Simmons, O Deshields. Booked: Botelho, Fray, Harvey.

Robin Hood (3-5-2): J Roberts 6 --- N Massa 6, C Robinson 6, K Bean 6 --- T Goater 5 (sub: N Edwards, 60 5), M Henry 6, L Evans, K Stovell 6 (sub: R Smith, 60 5), A Simons 5 (sub: D Brangman, 71)--- E Outerbridge 5, C Eve 6 (sub: D Smith, 66 4). Substitutes not used: W Noriega, C Douglas, M Hollis. Booked: Stovell, R Smith, Massa. Sent off: D Smith.

Referee: D Jackson.