Football: No Love To Be Lost In Friendship Clash
[Written by Patrick Bean]
There is little to disjunct the high flying pair of Friendship Trophy semi-finalists Robin Hood and PHC as the sides prepare for engagement on Boxing Day at Lord’s, St. David’s to decide which will contest the New Year’s Day final against either Dandy Town or Boulevard, who face off at the cubicle that is The Den at Devonshire Recreation Club.
PHC are tied with two other franchises – Somerset and North Village - as the most decorated in Friendship history with 11 championships, are the reigning and defending champions and have managed to find their way to the last three finals.
Robin Hood are one-time winners in their brief history as members of the Premier Division - a club has to be an associate to qualify for participation in the competition - their lone triumph coming as an upset of Dandy Town in the 2014 final.
Nevertheless, such history will likely not matter or play a contributory role when the curtain opens in the east end with both teams expected at full strength and each in ravishing form much of the first half of the season, scoring freely while making life difficult for rivals to penetrate their own defence.
Each have multiple attacking options with the Zebras possessing Cecoy Robinson as their relentless leader and skilled play-maker, as well as Wendell [Tre] Ming, their midfield marshal, both players also members of the Bermuda national team. There is also the likes of Kenny Matthie of front, who comes laden with a bagful of tricks and a wonderful burst of speed to give caution to opposing full or wing-backs.
Hood likewise have abundant talent up front and perhaps even more than PHC, as one-time Zebra and member of the traditional PHC family clan with the surname Russell, Antwan, is currently pressing Robinson in the chase for the season’s Most Valuable Player honour.
Russell can be unguardable at times and possesses all the attributes of a goalscorer with quickness, size and skill to start and finish plays. He possesses a fear-worthy partnership in the middle of thee park with the gifted Tomiko Goater, while they are able to readily feed Lejuan Simmons and Shakir Smith who have been irrepressive on the flanks.
The deal may come down to defence and goalkeeping and while Zebras may lean closer as the better outfield defence, Hood have a weapon in goal in the form of international ‘keeper Dale Eve, who has been magnificent all season.
On the sidelines there is similarly little to choose between the pair, with former overseas professional and Bermuda player John Barry Nusum instructs Robin Hood with great aplomb, while Scott Morton is without peer as the most prosperous and accomplished coach currently coaching at the senior club level.
While the Hood versus PHC contest is being viewed as the hoped for final, with the winner sure to be installed as instant favourites to win the whole she-bang there remains the matter of the aforementioned second semi-final.
This match is another toss-up match, although not as glittery as the other, with Town and Boulevard both battling among the second tier of teams in the Premier Division. Ton will be boosted by the knowledge of having beaten top club X-Roads to get this far, while Blazers have run into a decent vein of form of late and have the explosive capabilities of Ian Coke, perhaps the most feared striker in the land.
Among the close and bumpy confines Town should well feel at home, while Blazers have at once had the field as their past resident ground. Own will have absent first choice ‘keeper Treadwell Gibbons but should not miss him as coach Devarr Boyles has a roster of four ‘keepers to call on, however to be greatly missed would be leading scorer Angelo Simmons, who limped off gimpy during their quarter-final tie against Warriors and remains doubtful to recover in time for Boxing Day.
Matches commence at 2.30 and are preceded by Shield semi-final matches at 12.30.
