Dandy Town 5 Robin Hood 2Dandy Town handed holders Robin Hood their first loss of the season in a seven-goal thriller to lift the Dudley Eve Trophy at Devonshire Recreation Club on Sunday.The scoreline somewhat flattered Town in what was an evenly fought contest and remained wide open throughout and had Hood capitalised on more chances then it might have been a different story.However, that is not to take anything away from Devarr Boyles’s side who thoroughly deserved their first Dudley Eve Trophy title in five years as they were superior in attack and resolute in defence, especially early in the second half when Hood mounted a spirited fightback.Hood threatened first with Tomiko Goater going down under a challenge from Town goalkeeper Treadwell Gibbons Jr in a race to a ball played into the box. Hood appealed for a penalty but to no avail.Town gradually found their groove with midfielders Judah Chapman and Jahkari Furbert and striker Angelo Simmons causing Hood’s defence plenty of problems during an inventive spell of possession.It came as no surprise when Town finally made the breakthrough after striker Kwame Steede swept in Eusebio Blankendal’s cross standing alone at the back post.Hood nearly made an immediate response with captain Lejuan Simmons firing just over the bar from an angle after having a clear look at goal.Town would not be as fortunate on Hood’s next attacking foray, though, as Goater drew the defence towards him before passing to striker Chae Brangman, who beat Gibbons at the near post to bring the teams level.However, Hood’s joy was short-lived as Town regained the lead through captain Angelo Simmons timing his run into the box superbly before firing a shot past Hood goalkeeper Dale Eve. It was a clinical finish that capped an excellent build-up also involving Furbert and Steede.Hood threatened again with Lejuan Simmons bringing off a fingertip save from Gibbons but fell further behind after Furbert lashed home from the edge of the box to earn his team a 3-1 advantage at the half.Hood made a double substitution at the break with Colin Ryan and Shakir Smith making way for Liam Evans and Ashton Bell.Despite the two-goal deficit, John Barry Nusum’s team were never out of it and they should have done better when Goater was gifted a golden opportunity in front of goal. Former Town player Dominique Williams picked out Goater from eight yards, but his tame effort was easy pickings for Gibbons.Still, Hood pressed on and it was game on when Justin Corday rose above the Town defence to powerfully head home Lejuan Simmons’s free kick at the back post to make it 3-2.Hood’s tails were now up, but Town weathered the storm and eventually pulled away when substitute Oneko Lowe scored directly from a corner after his left-footed cross curled into the far corner.Clay Darrell, who also came on as a second-half substitute, then ran onto a long ball played down the right flank and shrugged a challenge before slotting under the advancing Eve. There was still time for Hood to mount another attack. Corday whipped in a delightful cross but defender Antwan Russell was unable to steer his header on target. It was yet another glaring miss that pretty much summed up Hood’s frustration on the day.SCORERSRobin Hood: Brangman 22, Corday 71 Dandy Town: Steede 12, Simmons 24, Furbert 29, Lowe 83, Darrell 84 TEAMSRobin Hood (4-1-4-1): D Eve — S Smith (sub: A Bell, 46min), J Bather, A Russell, D Williams — P Parsons — C Ryan (sub: L Evans, 46), J Corday, T Goater, L Simmons — C Brangman (sub: T Tyrell, 76). Substitutes not used: C Ricca, C Castle, A Nelson, E Outerbridge, L Steede. Booked: Parsons.Dandy Town (4-4-2): T Gibbons — J Bean-Lindo, S Darrell, J Richardson-Martin, A Furbert — E Trott, J Chapman (sub: L Emery, 65), E Blankendal, J Furbert (sub: O Lowe, 75), K Steede, A Simmons (sub: C Darrell, 75). Substitutes not used: K Wade, N Dante-Smith, D Butterfield, O Wilson, M Parsons, J Roser. Referee: G Swainson.