Robin Hood 0 Southampton Rangers 2Southampton Rangers earned a place in the Friendship Trophy final on New Year’s Day with a victory over Robin Hood at Wellington Oval yesterday. Shayne Hollis and Jahrizinho Bassett struck on either side of the half to cap off a solid performance by a determined Rangers side, much to the delight of coach Jomar Wilkinson, whose team will face Devonshire Cougars at Somerset Cricket Club.“I’m pleased with the way my players executed the game plan today,” Wilkinson said. “Being on a bigger pitch, we chose to load the midfield with numbers to manage the share of possession and keep them honest defensively. I thought we did that well and we were also able to take a couple of our chances to come out on top.”Both teams, although spirited in their approach, were very unsettled on the ball for large periods of the first half, with most attacks fizzling into nothing before the final third.It was not until the stroke of half-time that Rangers were awarded a penalty after their first concise passage of play. Donte Brangman was the man bundled over inside the box after beating his marker to leave referee Anthony Francis with no choice but to blow for a penalty.Hollis has been reliable from the spot as of late for Rangers, and was on target once again, striking his effort firmly into the top corner to claim the lead going into the interval. Hood came out the sharper after the break, stringing a few passes together and having a few good looks at goal. Tomiko Goater’s volley from range went just over the bar and goalkeeper Shaquille Bean showed safe hands, holding on to a low drive from Che Brangman from the edge of the box. Wilkinson made a change on the hour mark, bringing on Damon Ming with good effect. The experienced midfielder was in on the action right away, winning the ball in midfield, playing Bassett down the right side but Kamali Davis could not connect at the back post with his outstretched boot.Hood continued to search for an equaliser as substitute Shakir Smith came close with a well-struck effort from 25 yards, but Bean saved with a strong palm parrying over the bar.Rangers were always a threat on the counterattack as the game wore on and they would eventually find their second in the 80th minute. A quick, short corner caught Hood napping and the resulting cross from Ming was met perfectly by the diving Bassett, who glanced his header in at the far post. Hood continued to play, pushing numbers forward, but Rangers were resolute in their defending and maintained the shut-out.SCORERSSouthampton: Hollis 45 pen, Bassett 80TEAMSSouthampton Rangers (4-3-3): S Bean — I Taylor, R Sampson, M Burch, M Nisbett-Tankard — K Davis, Q Maynard (sub: R Wright, 78min) — D Brangman — S Hollis, K Wilson (sub: D Ming, 60), J Bassett (sub J Bean, 85). Substitutes not used: T Wilkinson, J Hill, N Mello. Robin Hood (4-3-3): J Simons — J Perriera (sub: L Steede, 79), A Russell, J Bather, A Bell — L Evans, P Parsons (sub: S Smith, 65), J Corday (sub: E Outerbridge, 83) — T Goater, L Simmons, C Brangman. Substitutes not used: A Astwood, Z Burgess, C Castle, A Nelson, C Ryan. Booked: Parsons.Referee: A Francis.