Robin Hood 8 Somerset Trojans 1

Robin Hood were at their ruthless best as they dismantled a youthful Somerset Trojans team 8-1 at Goose Gosling Field yesterday.

Lejuan Simmons and Chae Brangman both scored hat-tricks to help lay down a marker in Hood’s title contention bid.

Hood had Trojans on the back foot from the start as the visitors did their utmost to keep the hosts at bay.

In the fourth minute, Jaylon Bather tested Trojans’ goalkeeper, Yizharyah Williams, with a curling free kick to the far post that he did well to parry away from danger.

Simmons hit a volley wide from an angle before linking up with Temiko Goater only to see his shot blocked by a recovering Khiari Sharrieff-Hayward.

The constant pressure became too unbearable as Simmons ran onto a through ball which he slotted past the goalkeeper on the angle.

Former Trojan Justin Corday set up the second with a perfect pass over the Trojans’ defence which striker Brangman controlled before placing past the advancing Williams.

Antwan Russell then laid off a perfect ball to Liam Evans whose low shot slid under Williams into the corner of the net as the home side took their three-goal advantage into the break.

Three minutes into the second half, Brangman intercepted a poor back pass before rounding substitute goalkeeper Dequan Crockwell and slotting the ball into the open net despite the efforts of the two recovering centre-halves, Jahquille Stowe and Trevin Ming.

Trojans thought they had scored in the 56th minute when D’Andre Wainwright backheeled to substitute Zaire Smith who planted his shot past Dale Eve, but he was adjudged to have been off-side.

Hood’s fifth goal came courtesy of a penalty when a Trojan’s defender was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area.

Simmons made no mistake, keeping his cool to score his second.

Minutes later, Crockwell rushed off his line to block an advancing Brangman only for the rebound to fall in the path of Simmons who rammed the ball in the net to complete his hat-trick.

The forceful Wainwright dribbled forward before hitting a low drive forcing keeper Eve to push the ball around the post.

Another Brangman run led to Hood’s seventh goal when his shot was blocked only for the loose ball to be slammed home by Temiko Goater.

Trojans’ substitute Dennis Zuill kept Eve on his toes with a firm drive that forced the custodian to his left with a smart save.

Brangman completed his hat-trick when he was on the receiving end of substitute Shakir Smith’s pass.

His first-time effort leaving keeper Crockwell with no chance.

The Trojans scored a late consolation goal with the last kick of the game when Wainwright and Zaire Smith combined with a give-and-go pass for the latter to score from an angle placing the ball high into the roof of the net.

John Barry Nusum, the Robin Hood coach, could not hide his delight at the emphatic victory. “It was a very good performance,” he said.

“We were looking to knock the ball around and open their backs to pull them out of the pocket. We executed our game plan for the part.”

Despite being on the end of the heavy defeat, Trojans’ midfielder, Jaz Smith-Ratteray was full of praise for the opposition’s performance.

“It was a good game and Hood were the better team today,” he said.

“I would like to continue to encourage my team to not give up despite the result because there will be better days to come.”

SCORERS

Robin Hood 8

L Simmons 17, (pen) 61, 66

C Brangman 30, 48, 86

L Evans 44, T Goater 74

Somerset Trojans 1

Z Smith 90

TEAMS

Robin Hood (3-4-3): D Eve — A Russell, J Bather (sub: S Smith 78), P Parsons — C Castle (sub: J Pereira 62), L Evans, J Corday, A Bell — T Goater, C Brangman, L Simmons (sub: A Nelson 68). Substitutes not used: L Steede, D Williams, C Ryan, E Outerbridge.

Booked: L Simmons, C Castle

Somerset Trojans (4-1-4-1): Y Williams (sub: D Crockwell 46) — Khiari Sharrieff-Hayward, J Stowe, T Ming, M Joell, Jadan Ratteray-Smith — Jas Ratteray-Smith (sub: D Zuill 55), J Butterfield, C Durham, Takyh Sharrieff-Hayward (sub: Zaire Smith (44) — D Wainwright. Substitutes not used: D Swan, V Perinchief. G Fubler.

Referee: A Augustus