North Village 0 Robin Hood 3

Robin Hood kept the title race alive for another week after a deserved victory over North Village at Bernard Park where captain Lejuan Simmons scored two well-taken goals.

Hood, who like Village were depleted by injuries, with only three substitutes on the bench, one of them coach John Barry Nusum.

Village defender Terryn Fray, back from his trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, with the Bermuda cricket team, found himself in goal in the absence of goalkeepers Tahj Bell and Zane Hendrickson.

The home side went close in the opening minutes when captain Keishen Bean spotted goalkeeper Dale Eve off his line and chipped a shot from all of 40 yards that went just wide.

Winger Shakir Smith smashed a shot from an angle inside the box against the crossbar as Fray was tested for the first time midway through the half.

Two goals late in the first half finally put Hood in control and on their way to their tenth win of the season. A pass by right back Joe Pereira created the opening for Smith to beat Fray with a right-footed shot from close range.

Simmons opened his account three minutes later when his shot from 20 yards moved in the air to beat Fray, whose defenders gave Simmons too much space.

“All we can do is win and try to keep the pressure on PHC,” said Nusum, who accepts time may be running out with just two matches remaining and PHC still holding a three-point lead and with a better goal difference.

“We played well, had a solid game and got a couple of opportunities to put the ball away.”

Schoolboy Arnezha Astwood got his first start for Hood but was replaced after 32 minutes as a precaution after taking a knock. Mazhye Burchall is carrying a knock and was an unused substitute ahead of Hood’s FA Cup semi-final against PHC tomorrow night at Somerset Cricket Club.

“He’s a youngster and we didn’t want to push it this early in his career,” Nusum said of the decision to bring Astwood off. “He did well in the minutes he was on.”

Village tried to battle back but it was Hood who finally scored again in the 75th minute. Marcellos Thomas committed a free kick midway in Village’s half and the pass sent Smith down the flank before crossing for Simmons to side-foot past Fray at the near post.

Village went close late in the game when Bean lobbed the ball over the crossbar with Eve off his line. Then a shot from the left of the box by Keith Jennings was tipped over the bar by Eve.

Village were awarded a penalty by referee Martin Wyer in the 83rd minute when Jason Titterton shoved Bean in the back. However, Bean’s spot kick was saved by Eve diving to his left.

At the other end Fray also made a good save to his left to deny Smith a second goal in the final minute.

TEAMS

North Village: T Fray — K Knights, D Tankard, P Castle (sub: T Durham, 32min), A Johnston, J Briers, C Caisey (sub: J Bell, 58), M Thomas, D Daniels, K Jennings, K Bean. Substitutes not used: L Dill, D Dillas. Booked: Caisey

Robin Hood: D Eve — J Pereira, J Titterton, J Bather, P Froncioni, Z Burgess, S Smith, L Symonds, A Russell, L Simmons, A Astwood (sub: C Ricca, 32). Substitutes not used: M Burchall, J Nusum. Booked: Burgess.

Referee: M Wyer.