Bermuda Hogges 0

Wilmington Hammer'ds 1

Bermuda Hogges had reason to expect for far more than a paltry point from their double-header against a decidedly average, if not well-organised, Wilmington Hammerheads.

And in last night's disappointing showing at the National Sports Centre they really only had themselves to blame after slumping to their first home defeat of the season.

Not that they will need reminding.

Jared Peniston's angry kick against the dugout wall after the final whistle perfectly encapsulated Hogges' frustration at squandering a glorious chance to turn a decent start to the season into a great one.

Had Hogges managed to put away a there-for-the-taking Hammerheads they would be sharing the summit of the league table this morning.

Instead, Kyle Lightbourne's team are jostling for position in a congested mid-table, which is probably a fairer reflection of where Hogges are at in their development.

Lightbourne himself will wake up today with far more questions than answers.

While his ploy of suffocating the midfield has been a success in the sense Hogges have become difficult to beat, it strips them of natural width and leaves them overly reliant on the pace of Domico Coddington.

It wasn't until waspish winger Damon Ming entered the fray soon after Hogges had gifted Hammerheads an opener did the hosts gain a different attacking perspective.

Sure, Ming's final delivery was mostly poor but his enthusiasm, energy, and ability to take a defender out of the game with his dancing feet is a quality Lightbourne must make room for in his starting line-up.

The cameo performance of ex-Trinidad international Marlon Rojas also offered plenty of promise and was another catalyst for Hogges' huge improvement on their lethargic first half display.

Hammerheads were little better though, and didn't look like scoring until Darius Cox made a hash of clearing a bouncing ball allowing John DeVae to tap home Jamie Watson's neat pull-back on 52 minutes.

Falling behind seemed to inject some life into Hogges with substitutes Seion Darrell and Lashun Dill both forcing fine saves from the impressive Daryl Sattler in Hammerheads' goal.

Hogges' first home loss of the campaign left a deflated Lightbourne ruing his team's missed opportunity to extend their three game unbeaten run.

"We should have got something out of this game," he said. "I wouldn't have minded if Wilmington Hammerheads were the better team, but I didn't feel that they were.

"We gave away an awful goal and committed the cardinal sin of letting the ball bounce in the box.

"We looked lethargic in the first-half and I contemplated making four substitutions at half time." He added: "I thought their 'keeper made some excellent saves but we need to be more clinical in the box."

Hogges are next in action on Friday night against Real Maryland Monarchs at the National Sports Centre. Kick off is at 8 p.m.

Bermuda Hogges

J.Williams, K.Richards, O.Shakir, D.Cox, J.Peniston, B.Bean, K.Jennings (S.Darrell 65), K.Lewis (D.Ming 60), S.Degraff (M.Rojas 60), A.Russell (L.Dill 79), D.Coddington

Subs: T.Russell, J.Ball, M.Parsons

Wilmington Hammerheads

D.Sattler, C.Favley, D.Walters (S.Curfman 25) Z.Domrowski, C.Bagley, M.Briggs, T.Karalexis, K.Bundy (C.Murray 78), J. DeVae, A. King

Subs: K.Polak, T.Noviello, G.Tatters, T.Alexander

Referee: L.Suckle

Bookings: K.Jennings (Hogges)

Man-of-the-match: K.Richards (Hogges)