Erico Outerbridge scored the match-winner for Robin Hood in a 1-0 win against Flanagan’s Onions at Goose Gosling Field on Saturday night.

Hood, the defending cup holders, opened the scoring on the half-hour mark through forward Outerbridge with a neat finish after good work by Nathan Peskett, the former Onions midfielder.

In a game of few chances, Outerbridge’s goal proved to be the difference between the two rivals.

Hood had plenty of possession but rarely threatened the Onions goal, while Keston Lewis, the Onions striker, had to feed on scraps for the majority of the tie.

Kyle Lightbourne, the Hood coach, rested several key players such as Antwan Russell and Lejuan Simmons against Onions, who were reduced to ten men in the 80th minute when Treshun Smith was sent off for two bookable offences.

“We’ve stayed in the hat and that’s the main thing tonight,” Lightbourne said.

“Obviously we’re defending this trophy and we want to win it again.

“I thought we managed the game quite well, although we caused ourselves problems by giving the ball away cheaply at times.

“We had the edge on the them and I was able to make a couple of changes and give a few other guys who haven’t been playing a run out.”

Lightbourne felt it was important his side went into the two-week break on a positive note.

“It was important for us not to pick up silly bookings,” he said.

“Onions will obviously now be missing [Smith] in that game.”

Lightbourne added: “We didn’t create a lot but we scored that vital goal. I think we will approach the league game a bit differently.”

Hood, who are second in the Premier Division table, and relegation battlers Onions meet in the league next Monday at Goose Gosling Field at 9pm.

Hood won last season’s FA Cup final, defeating Dandy Town Hornets 2-0 in the final at the National Stadium.

Outerbridge also found the net in that match, with Shannon Burchall scoring the other the goal.