;Devonshire Cougars 0

Robin Hood 2

Robin Hood handed Devonshire Cougars their first loss of 2016 in this Premier Division contest at Devonshire Recreation Club last night.

Cougars defended poorly and ultimately paid the price as Hood secured the points on first-half goals from Lejuan Simmons and Nathan Peskett.

The result means leaders Dandy Town will have to keep the champagne on ice at least until Sunday when they host outgoing champion Somerset Trojans at St John’s Field.

Cougars came into last night’s contest, which was played in blustery and frigid conditions, on a five-game win streak but hit a brick wall against a well-organised Hood side.

The visiting played classic away football, staying compact at the back and catching their opponents on the counter-attack, which they used to devastating effect.

Cougars had plenty of good looks at goal but lacked cutting edge in the attacking third, which ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides on the night.

Attacking into the wind in the first half, Hood went straight for the jugular and took only four minutes to break through the Cougars defence, Simmons lashing in from close range after the home team failed to clear their lines.

Falling in arrears seemed to jolt Cougars into action and they should have been level when Moses Steede broke through.

But rather than unleash, the midfielder squared the ball to a team-mate in the box, which gave Hood just enough time to recover and snuff out the threat.

Cashun Brangman also made a hash of it after being sent through, shooting tamely into the arms of Jason Simons, the Hood goalkeeper, from point-blank range.

These missed opportunities came back to haunt Cougars, who found themselves in a deeper hole when Peskett’s low drive found the back of the net through a crowd of legs in the 22nd minute.

Hood continued to cause Cougars problems with their worrying pace on the break, with Peskett bringing a fine save from Ricardo Brangman, the Cougars goalkeeper, as the visiting side set about tightening the screws.

Cougars’ best chance of the first half fell to Kwame Steede, the player-coach, whose header was desperately cleared off the line by Jason Titterton, who was a force at centre back for Hood.

Both teams created further chances in a scoreless second half.

Zari Simmons, the Cougars midfielder, had a corner kick nearly sneak its way across the line after Simons failed to collect the ball cleanly at the near post and substitute Mark Steede wasted a good opportunity after being played through.

Another Cougars substitute, Lamont Brangman, also went close with an effort that rolled just wide of the far post. Hood countered with Simmons forcing Brangman to make a fingertip save to repel his angled drive.

The visiting side were also denied what looked a certain penalty after Peskett was tripped up in the box, but Stephen Allen, the referee, thought otherwise and waved play on.

Simmons threatened again in stoppage time with a low shot that Brangman saved with his legs.

TEAMS

Scorers

Robin Hood (Simmons 4, Peskett 22)

Devonshire Cougars (4-5-1): R Brangman — J Darrell, Zekiro White, Zeko White, C Burns (sub: M Thomas, 75min) — Moses Steede, Z Simmons, Z Morris (sub: L Brangman, 58), C Brangman (sub: Mark Steede, 61), M Battersbee — K Steede. Substitutes not used: T Woodley, J Mouchette, N Carmichael, J Furbert-Wade. Booked: Zekiro White, Battersbee, L Brangman.

Robin Hood (4-3-3): J Simons — P Froncioni, J Titterton, J Bather, D Cox — A Nelson, M Thomas, E Outerbridge — T Dill (sub: S Burchall, 82), L Simmons, N Peskett. Substitutes not used: C Boyce, C Fosker, M McGowan, L Simmons, A Ivo, T Williams.

Referee: S Allen.

Wolves 1 BAA 2

In the First Division opener, BAA held off a late fightback from Wolves to win 2-1.

BAA were in control at 2-0 up at the half, through goals from Jahkari Furbert and Zeon Robinson.

Furbert broke the deadlock in the 29th minute before Robinson doubled BAA’s lead from the penalty spot in the 34th minute after Wolves handled in the box.

BAA struck the crossbar in the second half and were fortunate to come away victorious after Wolves rallied late. It was game on when Lamelle Paynter pulled one back for the home side in the 68th minute.