Devonshire Cougars 0 Robin Hood 1

Robin Hood got their title hopes back on track with a win away to nine-man Devonshire Cougars in the Premier Division yesterday.

Donte Brangman, the Hood midfielder, scored the winner in the 33rd minute against a Cougars side who had two players sent off in either half.

Kioshi Trott, the Cougars goalkeeper, received his marching orders for violent conduct after “taking out” Hood forward Shannon Burchall after the referee’s assistant had already flagged for offside.

Confusion reigned in the aftermath of referee Anthony Francis’s decision which came moments before half-time, with Hood initially believing they had been awarded a penalty as well.

Cougars were reduced to nine men in the 80th minute when substitute striker Lamont Brangman was sent off after picking up two successive yellow cards during a dropped-ball incident following an injury to Hood midfielder Zuhri Burgess.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Cougars were always in the game and made Hood work hard for their victory, although the home side will have been disappointed not to have put more pressure on Nathan Peskett, Hood’s stand-in goalkeeper, in the absence of Jason Simmons.

Hood squandered a great opportunity to extend their lead with ten minutes remaining when Shannon Burchall missed a one-on-one chance, his weak shot being saved by Xyon Outerbridge-Smith, who replaced Trott in the Cougars goal. Cougars best chance fell to Cashun Brangman who tested Peskett with a firm left-footed strike from an angle.

Kyle Lightbourne, the Hood coach, admitted Cougars made his side toil for their win and was disappointed they could not kill the game off.

“We got the three points we were looking for and it wasn’t our best game,” Lightbourne said. “Cougars pushed us all of the way with ten men and then with nine men. They had nothing too lose and we just couldn’t kill the game off. The performance wasn’t great, but I’m happy with the three points.”

Lightbourne added: “We had scored before their goalkeeper got sent off and for some reason we never seem to do very well against ten men. Cougars fought hard and not too many teams come here and get points.”

Lightbourne also saved special praise for Peskett, a customary midfielder, who donned the gloves with first-choice goalkeeper Simmons off the island.

“It wasn’t a good game today and we were stretched at the maximum with players suspended and our goalkeeper being away, which we tried to keep quiet during the week,” Lightbourne said.

“I have to give a big shout-out to Peskett. He said to me in the week that he would go in goal and it came off trumps today. He made a good save with about 15 minutes to go.”

Hood, who suffered a last-minute defeat away to North Village last week, remain in third place, six points behind the leaders with a game in hand.

SCORER

Robin Hood

Brangman 33

TEAMS

Robin Hood (4-3-3): N Peskett — J Pereira, E Outerbridge, C Fosker, D Cox — Z Burgess (sub: M Thomas, 70min), C Ryan, D Brangman — L Simmons, S Smith (sub: D Andrade, 89), S Burchall (sub: C Boyce, 81). Booked: Peskett

Devonshire Cougars (4-5-1): K Trott — C Brangman, D Williams, Zekiro White, Z White — C Burns, J Smith (sub: L Brangman, 65), M Battersbee, M Rudo (sub: X Outerbridge, 43), M Thomas — S Pearman (sub: K Franks, 78). Substitutes not used: J Mallory, H Stevens-Carty, K Franks, Tota, N Simmons. Sent off: Trott, Brangman Booked: Burns

Referee: A Francis