Richmond Kickers 4

Bermuda Hogges 0

Nobody thought Bermuda Hogges’ first foray into franchise football was going to be easy — but it is unlikely they envisaged it being quite this hard.

Kyle Lightbourne’s young charges had high hopes ahead of their double-header in the United States this past weekend, but return to Bermuda today empty-handed and still searching for their first victory after seven games.

And while they can consider themselves unfortunate not to have salvaged at least a point against Crystal Palace Baltimore on Saturday, where they lost narrowly 2-1, they could have no complaints after being outclassed by defending champions Rickmond Kickers in a completely one-sided game yesterday evening.

It had been an upbeat squad that set off from Maryland to Virginia, where they enjoyed a pre-match lunch before heading to the impressive University of Richmond Stadium keen to end their sojourn in the US with a positive result.

Following their defeat at Baltimore 24-hours earlier, coach Kyle Lightbourne shuffled his selection pack, reverting to a 4-4-2 formation with captain Kwame Steede partnering Ralph Bean in attack.

Schemer Sammy DeGraff returned to midfield with Laushon Dill, while Jelani Scott dropped into right back with Robert Wilson at centre-half.

Looking every inch defending champions, Kickers took the initiative from the outset, forcing the Hogges to retreat deep inside their own half.

Moving the ball with pace and purpose, Richmond launched an aggressive assault on the Hogges goalmouth, and could have been ahead in the fourth minute when Scott had to scamper Matt Watson’s snap-shot off the line from Mike Burke’s corner.

Bermuda hearts were again in mouths on 13 minutes when a deep Charlie Howe cross looped ominously onto Jason Williams’ cross bar before bouncing out of play.

But it wasn’t long before the hosts made their superior swathes of possession count with Mike Burke curling in an exquisite free-kick on the edge of the box on 18 minutes.

Like rabbits in headlights, the Hogges had no response to the Kickers’ slick brand of power play — forcing them to set up permanent residence inside their own half.

A fine save from Jason Williams prevented Kickers increasing their lead on 39 minutes, blocking Kelvin Jones pile-driver from the edge of the area. A rare Hogges attack then forced Ronnie Pascale into his first save of the match, acrobatically tipping Jared Peniston’s long-range effort over the bar.

But on 42 minutes the Hogges were undone by another set-piece, with David Bulow heading home Burke’s inswinging corner.

The second period, meanwhile, continued in the same vein with Kickers continuing their relentless dominance with Robert Ssejjemba heading home Burke’s right-wing centre on 63 minutes.

Ssejjemba, the league’s MVP last season, then bagged himself a brace when he raced into the area before rounding ‘keeper Williams and slotting home to put his side into an unassailable lead on 73 minutes.

After the one-sided encounter Hogges skipper Kwame Steede conceded he hadn’t expected to still be without a victory after seven games — but insisted the trip hadn’t been without its positives.

“Having not won yet is definitely playing on all our minds and it’s fair to say we didn’t expect to still be without a victory at this point in the season,” he said.

“Kickers were a different class and we can have no complaints, although I thought we deserved something out of the game against Palace.

“We come home from this trip without a point and that’s disappointing but I still think we can take heart from some of the football we played especially against Palace.

“It was tough playing two games in two days and I feel we are a stronger unit than we were a few weeks ago.”

Bermuda Hogges: J Williams R Wilson O Shakir D Zuill J Scott L Dill D DeGraff J Peniston ( CHill 57) D Ming (R Bean 19) K Steede (L Holder) R Beach (S Astwood 60)

Richmond Kickers: R Pascale S Wolfe T McEachron K Jones (K Edwards 82) E Harding C Howe M Burke (B Morris 80) S Gorres M Watson (J Nowaf 74) D Bulow (A Trey 80) R Ssejjemba (R Schramm 74)

Yellows: M Burke

Man-of-the-Match: Jason Williams