Robin Hood 0 PHC Zebras 3

PHC Zebras reached their first FA Cup final since 2008 when a hat-trick from captain Cecoy Robinson led them to a comfortable victory over holders Robin Hood at Somerset last night.

PHC, recently handed their first loss in the league by Robin Hood, took early control and built up a two-goal lead at the half before Robinson, playing as a striker, completed his treble early in the second half.

It was a performance that pleased coach Scott Morton who no doubt had a good night’s sleep last night while his team awaits the winners of tonight’s second semi-final between North Village and Dandy Town at Goose Gosling Field.

“I’m 100 per cent pleased, the players gave everything they had, adjusted to the team talk and the new demands, and just getting back to what they knew how to do,” Morton said. “I haven’t seen them play like that since our first couple of games of the season, a complete match.”

Tre Ming, the Bermuda midfielder, delayed his return to college to play in the match and it was his pass that set up the first goal. Wearing his favourite No 13 jersey, Ming’s thirteenth-minute pass put Idrees Sharrieff through into the box where his shot was blocked by goalkeeper Jason Simons. Robinson quickly pounced to score with a lob into the roof of the net.

PHC controlled the fast-paced game as they were quicker on the ball and quick in getting it to their front men. A series of passes in the Hood half led to Robinson’s second goal just past the half-hour mark, when Robinson tapped in Sharrieff’s cross to the far post.

Midfielder Marco Warren almost added a third just before the half when he curled a free kick over the wall before Simons saved at the far post.

Moments after Lejuan Simmons had a shot blocked by PHC goalkeeper Quinaceo Hunt at the near post, PHC went upfield to add a third as Robinson completed his hat-trick with a tap-in at the far post after following up on a shot from Warren.

Hood came more into the match but PHC were coasting and never looked like throwing away a three-goal lead. A quick break by Antwan Russell led to Simmons testing Hunt from a similar position on the right side of the box but he tipped the effort over the bar.

Shakir Smith, a former PHC player, put a header wide at the far post before Robinson was denied a forth goal by a low save from Simons who then tipped an effort from Warren over for a corner as PHC kept in the hunt for goals.

Morton has no preference for opponents when they step out for their third final this season on April 9 against either Village or Town who have 15 titles between them. Town, Morton’s former team, have reached four of the last five finals, winning three.

“It makes no difference to me, any team that is going to present a good match for us, that’s what I want,” Morton said. “That’s what football is about, it’s what the fans come out to see and the clubs deserve.”

Kyle Lightbourne, the Robin Hood coach, admitted his former team were the deserved winners last night. “We were way off the pace tonight, a disappointing result,” he said.

“We’ve had a good run in the cup over a three-year period, so we have to take it. We have two big games left in the league and will have to perform better than we did tonight. I thought PHC were by far the better team tonight, so they deserve to go to the final.

“Our guys played like we haven’t played in a few weeks.”