New Hampshire Phantoms 0 Bermuda Hogges 1

Bermuda Hogges proved their recent revival was not merely a flash in the pan with a thoroughly convincing victory over New Hampshire Phantoms.

On the back of a humiliating 8-1 blip at Crystal Palace Baltimore the Hogges knew a basement battle against their nearest league rivals would be a public test of their mettle and character.

And boy did they pass with flying colours, controlling the encounter from the first whistle to post their third win of their inaugural campaign.

In truth the narrow scoreline should have been far more emphatic with the Hogges guilty of some profligacy in front of goal during a one-sided first half.

But in the 64th minute defender Omar Shakir finally gave them the lead their expansive passing play deserved - much to the joy of the many Bermudians inside the Manchester Memorial HS who took advantage of Cup Match to visit the US and watch their country's first football franchise in action.

The much needed, confidence boosting triumph takes Kyle Lightbourne's charges to a solitary point behind the Phantoms in the league standings, with the Hogges having more games in the bank.

Co-owner Paul Scope praised the Hogges for bouncing back from last week's heavy loss against Baltimore and said they had learned a harsh lesson not to take their foot off the pedal.

"We needed a victory after last week's heavy defeat which wounded our pride quite a bit," he said. "To be fair the players responded in the best possible fashion and put in a thoroughly professional performance.

"To be honest we should have beaten them by more goals and we were a little wasteful in the first-half as we created plenty of chances. But we played really well and were always in control - our midfield ran the show.

"It was great to see so many Bermudians in the crowd as well - many must have come over to the US for Cup Match."

In the absence of in-form marksman Stevie Astwood the Hogges opted for pace over power in attack with Ralph Bean and Damon Ming looking to expose the Phantoms dearth of mobility in defence.

It was a ploy that worked with aplomb with Bean a man-of-the-match contender and Ming causing plenty of problems with his waspish movement.

"Our first victory of the season came against the Phantoms back in June and we noticed they were a little slow and cumbersome at the back," added Scope.

"The speed of Bean and Ming caused a real handful.

"I was also impressed with our defending and our latest recruit Kevin Richards has had a real impact since signing - but we knew he would.

"Both he and Jabrel Tucker have given us something extra in the wing-back positions. First and foremost they are defenders but both have the capacity to get forward and support our attacks.

"Earlier in the season we were having to play wingers at wing-back and that never really works as you can get exposed defensively - so we're delighted with both of them."

"The whole back four defended with discipline and we're confident of a strong finish to the season and hopefully lift ourselves off the bottom of the table."

The Hogges brought back Darius Cox to the starting fold with Robert Wilson unable to travel due to work commitments, while midfielder Sammy De Graff returned from his month-long trial with Internacionale in Brazil.

Midfielder Jelani Scott was absent through a calf injury and has not travelled with the Hogges on their four game trip to the US.

Up next are Western Mass Pioneers at Lusitano Stadium on Tuesday night.

Pioneers currently lie in sixth in the USL-D2.

Bermuda Hogges starting line-up: T.Figureido K. Richards D. Cox O.Shakir D. Zuill J Tucker J Peniston S DeGraff K Steede R Bean D Ming Goalscorer O.Shakir

Man-of-the-match R. Bean