Goalkeeper Dale Eve was the hero as Robin Hood clinched a second appearance in the FA Cup final last night with a 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory over holders PHC Zebras.

Eve made four penalty saves, one in the first half from Cecoy Robinson and then three more before Hood prevailed in sudden-death kicks after the first five kicks, like regulation time, could not separate the teams.

The previous five meetings between the sides this season had all been close, two draws in the league and three cup matches settled by one goal.

Shakir Smith went close for Hood against his former team, driving over from inside the box.

PHC had the chance to take the lead midway through the half when they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Marco Warren by Joe Pereira, but Cecoy Robinson’s spot-kick was weak and goalkeeper Dale Eve saved to his right.

Hood were forced to make a change in the 25th minute when Mazhye Burchall went off with a thigh injury that he took into the game.

Philipe Froncioni replaced him, allowing Smith to switch frim left back to left wing.

A headed clearance by player-coach John Barry Nusum just missed the far post before Quinaceo Hunt made a reflex save at the near post at the other end.

Nusum was the other hero for Hood, planting his spot-kick to goalkeeper Quinaceo Hunt’s right to finally settle the semi-final at 12.35am.

Marco Warren and Antwan Russell converted the first kicks before the next two kicks from Na’eem Griffith of PHC and Colin Ryan were saved. Robinson then scored, this time to Eve’s left, while Smith did likewise for Hood to make it 2-2.

Marquel Waldron of PHC had his kick saved before Zuhri Burgess scored to give Hood a 3-2 lead. Goalkeeper Hunt turned goalscorer when he converted his team’s fifth before Lejuan Simmons, Hood’s two-goal hero on the weekend,shockingly put his shot well over the bar to give PHC a reprieve at 3-3.

However in sudden death, Rakeem DeShields’s kick was saved by Eve, setting up Nusum with the chance to be the Hood hero. He calmly placed his penalty to Hunt’s right to take his team through and deny PHC a 20th appearance in the final.