Bermuda Hogges 0

Wilmington Hammer'ds 0

When will Stevie Astwood learn his lesson?

Not for first time in his career the big midfielder received his marching orders for dissent last night in an incident that echoed of his sending off for Bermuda against Cayman in the Digicel Cup.

But while Astwood was still trudging to the dressing room Hogges saw the pendulum swing back in their favour on the hour mark when Antwan Russell burst into the box and was stopped in tracks with a heavy nudge in his back.

Looking to repeat his spot-kick success against Richmond Kickers a fortnight ago, Russell stepped up to take the penalty but watched in agony as Hammerheads' goalkeeper Daryl Sattler comfortably saved his weak effort. The two flashpoint incidents left coach Kyle Lightbourne confused as to whether his team had gained a point or thrown away two.

"I've mixed feelings about tonight's match," said Lightbourne. "I do think it's a point gained, but then we did win a penalty so soon after Stevie had been sent off.

"It's disappointing because we've a history of missing penalties. I probably would have taken a point at the start of the game – but I thought we were the better side."

Frustratingly, Astwood had been enjoying his best match of the season until he was punished for a second time for arguing with the referee.

Lightbourne admitted his player shouldn't have been "in the referee's face", but believed Astwood had been unfortunate to be brandished with the red card. "It was a silly thing to do but I heard exactly what Stevie said to the referee. He didn't curse at him and I thought it was harsh.

"Okay, he shouldn't have been in the referee's face but it was such a trivial thing to get sent off for."

Hammerheads – probably the most direct team in the league – offered very little in the way of attacking invention other than from well-taken set-pieces, and both teams had goals disallowed for dubious off-sides during a first-half that Hogges probably shaded.

"I didn't see much wrong with either of the off-sides," said Lightbourne. "Antwan Russell looked like he had come from behind the Hammerheads defence and then their 'keeper slipped."

In the second period Astwood saw a curling free-kick rattle the woodwork, while Domico Coddington had a snap shot fly marginally over the upright.

Following Astwood's early bath and Russell's penalty miss, Hogges had to withstand a barrage of pressure with Hammerheads pumping balls into the box at every opportunity.

Encouragingly, Hogges held firm to keep their second successive clean sheet with re-called 'keeper Jason Williams pulling off a superb save to deny Tyler Noviello late on.

"We knew they were a set-piece team and we dealt well with their aerial balls," said Lightbourne.

Hogges will be looking to remain unbeaten at home this season when they face Hammerheads again tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the National Sports Centre.

Bermuda Hogges

J.Williams, K.Richards, O.Shakir, D.Cox, J.Peniston, B.Bean, K.Lewis (S.DeGraff 70), S.Astwood, K. Jennings, A.Russell (D.Ming 81) D.Coddington

Subs: L.Dill, S.Darrell, M.Rojas, T.Russell

Wilmington Hammerheads

D.Sattler, T.Karalexis, C.Falvey, D.Walters, J.Thayer, K.Bundy, M.Briggs, Z.Dombrowski, S.Curfman, C.Bagley, J.Watson

Subs: K.Polak, C.Murray, T.Noviello, G.Tatters, T.Alexander, J.DeVae, A.King

Referee: L.Suckle

Red card: S.Astwood (Hogges)

B.Bean (Hogges)

Yellow cards: D.Walters (Hammerheads)

C.Murray (Hammerheads)

Man-of-the-match: J.Penistion (Hogges)