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Russell treble lifts Hood out of the cellar

Antwan Russell netted a hat-trick as Robin Hood scored a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Wolves on Saturday night. The win lifts Hood off the bottom of the Premier Division table.

Robin Hood 3 Wolves 2Late transfer signing Antwan Russell scored a hat-trick on Saturday night at BAA Field as struggling Robin Hood moved off the bottom of the Premier Division for the first time this season.Hood, five points behind Wolves prior to the match, had the worst possible start when the visitors struck in the 15th and 21st minutes through Sergio Richardson and Derrick Brangman to take early control of the match.However, Hood, with just one win in seven league matches, stubbornly fought their way back to snatch a hard-fought win.It certainly did not look like being Hood’s night when Richardson broke the deadlock with a shot from the edge of the box that beat Timmy Figureido on its way into the far corner. Wolves had gone close just a couple of minutes earlier when Torry Davis’ blocked shot was tipped over the bar by the veteran Figureido.Wolves were certainly looking lively and fullback Mike Williams’ aggressive run down the right won the free kick which led to their second goal.Williams was fouled on the corner of the box and Derrick Brangman curled a left-footed shot that went in off the inside of the far post with the diving Figureido beaten.It looked a long way back for Hood at this point, but gradually they began to find a rhythm before Russell got them back in the game with an effort from close range after a deep cross from Donte Albouy found Russell inside the box to poke the ball past goalkeeper Jahhi Shakir and into the bottom corner.Wolves almost closed out the first half with a third goal when defender John Nusum had a header cleared off the Robin Hood line. They continued to hold a slight edge early in the second half, though Hood continued to look threatening on the break.A miss by Derrick Brangman proved costly for Wolves, after a Torry Davis ball into the box landed at his feet and he failed to control the ball properly and never got off his shot when with just Figureido to beat.Russell then made Wolves pay by scoring twice in the space of five minutes to turn the match around for Hood. The equaliser came in the 65th minute when Russell’s shot found the far corner.Minutes later the striker was in the thick of the action again, this time earning a penalty when goalkeeper Shakir was adjudged to have tripped him inside the box after Russell followed up on a Joshua Crockwell shot that was parried by Shakir.Russell went down in the challenge and though Wolves players argued there was minimal contact, Shakir was booked for the foul before Russell converted the spot-kick to put Hood in front for good.Figureido, a former Bermuda international, call on all his experience to protect Hood’s lead when he made a good diving save in the 90th minute to keep out a header from Nusum at the far post.The win puts Robin Hood on six points, just two behind Wolves in eighth place.Robin Hood: T Figureido, D. Albouy, J Crockwell, K Davis, S Franks, Q Maynard, D Reitzer, B Robinson (J Duffy 81 minutes), A Russell, T Terceira, D Williams.Substitutes not used: J Federico.Goals: A Russell (33, 65, 70 minutes)Yellow cards: D Williams, K Davis.Wolves: J Shakir, M Williams, L. Paynter, J Nusum, D Simons, T Davis, J Peniston, K Brangman (K Smith 77 minutes), S Richardson (S Pearman 68 minutes), D Brangman (A Zuill 73 minutes), A Burgess.Substitutes not used: M Ming, A Brangman, M Laws.Goals: S Richardson (15 minutes), D Brangman (21 minutes).Yellow cards: A Burgess, J Shakir, D Simons.Referee: A FrancisMan of the match: A Russell (Robin Hood).