Bermuda Hogges 0

Harrisburg City Islanders 1

They played marginally better than they did on Friday, but the Island’s new professional outfit still suffered their second defeat inside 48 hours at the hands of the Harrisburg City Islanders at the National Sports Centre yesterday .

In a virtual carbon copy of the opening game, Kyle Lightbourne’s men struggled to come to terms with their well-drilled American opponents, who were superior once again in most areas — aside from some continued poor finishing which saw the team from Pennsylvania squander a further glut of opportunities on top of the bucketload they missed on Friday.

A first-half goal from midfielder Mike Lookingland was all that separated the two sides on paper, though even the most one-eyed of the roughly 800 supporters present would have had to admit that the gulf between them was far wider than that.

To come away with a pair of 1-0 defeats, having been so comprehensively outplayed in both games, will be something of a relief to the Hogges management, who will no doubt be looking for much improved performances as the players become more comfortable with each other and the standard of the United Soccer League’s Second Division.

The failure to score over 180 minutes of football should also be a worry, but there were at least some signs yesterday in the form of eight corners and six shots on target that the Hogges have got more to offer in this area.

Defensively, however, there is much work still to be done and the same frailties that were evident on Friday night were brutally exposed in yesterday’s opening exchanges.

Harrisburg striker Chad Severs squandered a glorious chance a mere 30 seconds in when he was put through on goal via a long ball over the top — only to skew his shot wide of the right-hand upright with only Timmy Figureido to beat.

Midfielder Phil Schofield then hit a post on five minutes from only five yards out after popping up totally unmarked in the box to meet a cross from the left, before the unrelenting pressure finally told through Lookingland, who slotted home a David McClellan cross from roughly level with the penalty spot.

Assistant coach Paul Scope insisted after the game that they will stick with the current defensive plan to play a flat back four high up the pitch in an effort to close down space in midfield.

But against astute teams blessed with pacey forwards this tactic is certainly a risky one, and there will be other days when the oceans of space between Figureido and his defensive line will be more effectively exploited.

Though far from fluid, the Hogges were not totally impotent going forward, as franchise player Stephen Astwood forced a good save out of Islanders’ ‘keeper Matt Nelson with a powerful shot from outside the area after 16 minutes.

But Harrisburg were still by far the better side overall, and Schofield soon had the ball in the back of the net after tapping in unchallenged from five yards — only to be ruled offside by the referee despite the linesman’s flag remaining down.

As the first half progressed, the Hogges had Figureido to thank for keeping them in the game, with the Trojans ‘keeper pulling off a collection of athletic saves to keep Harrisburg at bay.

Given the number of chances they carved out, it was remarkable the Islanders went into the break at only 1-0 up, while even the introduction of winger Domico Coddington in the 31st minute in place of the disappointing Lashoun Dill did little to inspire the Hogges going forward.

Yet shortly after the re-start — no doubt stirred by some choice words from Lightbourne — the home side did enjoy a productive 10-minute spell where an equaliser looked entirely possible.

Firstly, a Jelani Scott free kick from the right was met by Jared Peniston, whose firm angled header was well saved by a diving Matt Nelson while not long after a route-one clearance from Figureido was flicked on by Lee Holder to find Coddington, who stayed onside before unleashing a right-foot shot that didn’t test Nelson as it should have done.

While relations between the sides were fairly cordial by professional standards, tempers flared momentarily mid-way through the second half after Lightbourne collected a ball which had rolled into his technical area.

Anxious to get the ball back in play quickly, Harrisburg’s Anthony Calvano became angry with Lightbourne for holding onto the ball for longer than he wanted, and instead turned and ripped another from the hands of an unsuspecting ball-boy to his left.

It was an ill-advised act of frustration made in the heat of the moment, but it certainly fired up the crowd, who spent the last 20 minutes of the game booing him whenever he touched the ball. A contrite Calvano apologised to the ball-boy after the game and gave him his match shirt.

Meanwhile, as expected Shaun Goater was brought into the action with around 15 minutes to go and, as he had in the first match, positioned himself in the hole just behind Astwood to try and link play more effectively between the midfield and the forwards.

But in truth the game had gone flat by the latter stages as the players tired in the afternoon heat, and apart from a shot from Peniston which was easily saved with four minutes to go, there was precious little to get excited about as the game meandered towards its conclusion.

The Hogges now have ten days to prepare for their next USL assignment on May 9, when the Cincinnati Kings — who have also lost their opening two games — travel to Bermuda.

Bermuda Hogges: T.Figureido, D.Cox (R.Wilson 84 mins), J.Scott, D.Zuill, J.Peniston, D.Ming, O.Shakir (L.Holder 63 mins), S.Astwood, L.Dill, R.Bean (S.Goater 75 mins) M.Parsons

Harrisburg City Islanders: M.Nelson, A.Calvano, D.Bixler, T.Velten, R.Pierce, D.Schofield (M.Tanzini 60 mins), C.Morman, M.Lookingland, D.McClellan, (S.Fischer 40 mins), C.Severs (A.Clay 81 mins), J.Bolton (C.Morales 68 mins)

Yellow cards: J.Scott, D.Ming, S.Astwood (Hogges); D.Schofield (Harrisburg)

Men of the Match: T.Figuerido (Hogges), D.Schofield (Harrisburg)

Referee: F.Sanchez