League leaders Robin Hood stayed in pole position for promotion to the Premier Division with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over rivals Devonshire Colts at Police Field yesterday. But the result that keeps them two points clear of St George’s Colts came at a cost, with leading scorer Jesse Kirkland leaving the field early with an injury that jeopardises his involvement in the run-in, including the FA Cup semi-finals in four weeks’ time.

The Hood striker injured his shoulder in a tackle in the 31st minute and had to be replaced by Gary Adams.

“Unfortunately Jesse got injured early in the game,” Kyle Lightbourne, the Hood coach, said. “But when Gary came on, he held the ball up well and had a good presence and caused them problems.”

Kirkland, who represented Bermuda in sailing at London 2012, was due to have a scan at the hospital after the match to determine the extent of an injury that could not have come at a worse time for a Hood team who have so much to play for.

“It is concern with Jesse because we need him for our remaining league matches and we are are still in the FA Cup,” Lightbourne said. “You cannot miss a player like that for too long.”

Hood prevailed on goals from winger Marcelos Thomas and midfielder Shawn Brown. Colts centre back Vernel Lambe pulled one back for the home team who paid the price for poor finishing.

After a scoreless first half, Thomas broke the deadlock in the 49th minute when he converted Liam Evans’s pass in the area from close range.

Evans, who was a constant thorn in Colts’ side with his menacing runs and precision passing, also had a hand in Hood’s second goal. Evans threaded a pass in the box to fellow midfielder Shawn Brown, who made no mistake from close range on the hour mark.

Colts finally got a foothold in the match in the 71st minute when Lambe’s glancing header from a Sean Perinchief free kick drifted into the roof of an empty Hood net.

The home team had further chances to score but failed to capitalise as Hood, who spurned several chances of their own to increase their lead, held on for their eleventh league win of the season.

“It was a scrappy affair but I thought we deserved to win,” Lightbourne said. “We had the better chances in the match and we managed to put our chances away. We dug in and done well to get the three points against Colts to keep us going.”

St George’s scored a vital 3-1 win over X-Roads at Garrison Field to eliminate their opponents from the promotion race. The St George’s victory, coupled with Hood’s win over Colts, means the east-enders are now five points ahead of third-placed Devonshire Colts.

St George’s took the lead after only 30 seconds when Richard Basden converted a cross from Macai Simmons. X-Roads drew level with a well-taken goal by Tristan Daniels in the 50th minute, the forward running on to a long ball and volleying past Charles Marshall, who was stranded off his line.

Substitute Wesley Stovell restored the St George’s lead midway through the second half when he beat goalkeeper Tariq Smith from an angle inside the box. A twice-taken X-Roads indirect free kick inside the St George’s box caused some anxiety, as the second effort found the back of the net but was ruled out because it did not touch another player.

With the match hanging in the balance, St George’s made certain of victory when Stovell scored his second goal two minutes into stoppage time. X-Roads were left exposed at the back, as they pushed players forward in search of the equaliser. A break by St George’s ended with Stovell beating the last defender and racing towards goal before rounding the goalkeeper and slotting home from an angle.

“This was a big win for us,” Kameron Fox, the St George’s coach said, as he awaited the result of the Hood-Colts match. “We have a little advantage going into the match next week with Robin Hood at home.

“The players have to be willing to go for it. Promotion is the No?1 priority, winning the league No?2, but if we can win the league, we’ll take it. I’m proud of my boys. The guys know it is on our shoulders right now and I hope they’re strong enough.”

Two goals from Dante Woods helped to guide Ireland Island Rangers to their fourth win of the season, beating Paget Lions 3-2 at Southampton Oval.

Woods grabbed the opener in the 35th minute, but Gerald Simons replied for the home side early in the second half. Woods gave his side the lead for the second time from the penalty spot midway through the second half, but winless Paget refused to go down without a fight and were soon level again through Jahniya Richardson.

Jonny Bean would score the winner in the dying moments of the match, sending his side home with three points.

Kanhai Fray scored the lone goal in Somerset Eagles’ 1-0 win over Young Men’s Social Club at White Hill Field.

Fray’s goal came midway through the second half to settle the match, and earn the home side maximum points.

In Saturday night’s match at Goose Gosling Field, BAA Wanderers beat Boulevard Blazers 3-2.

Blazers opened the scoring in the ninth minute courtesy of Deshaun Berkeley, but the sides were level on 31 minutes when Joshua Desilva got his name on the scoresheet.

Jaylon Bather and Dante Taylor both scored in the space of one minute, in the 45th and first minute of stoppage time, to give the home side a winning lead. Dunn-Ya Taylor scored in the 67th for the visiting side, but that would be as close as they would come.