Football: Robin Hood Earn 6-1 Win Over BAA
[Written by Patrick Bean]
Robin Hood moved to within a point of the Premier Division lead following a convincing 6-1 win over BAA at Goose Gosling Field on Sunday.
Play-maker Temiko Goater unloaded his bag of tricks on his opponents in scoring a hat-trick, including two goals in the first half and a single tally in the second before coach Tim Figureido pulled the marksman to likely help preserve and avoid any unnecessary knocks to the player with an all-important clash coming up against current and no longer surprise leaders X-Roads Warriors.
Goater’s initial conversions were part of a four goal first stanza, which Hood dominated, particularly in the attacking third, where Goater clicked, linking well with captain Antwan Russell, Shakir Smith and Lejuan Simmons to bring severe pressure to the Green Knights’ defence and goal-keeper Daniel Johnson who struggled with his ground game throughout the match.
He would be beaten and exposed with rapidity from he start as Hood came out with purpose and desire for goals on this day and in the first half as Simmons [16 minutes], Smith [21 mins] and Goater [30, 45+1 mins] each struck paydirt.
The second half was barely better for BAA and this likely as Hood took the foot off the pedal with a multiple goal lead.
BAA pulled a goal back in the 49th minute to bin a glimmer of hope to the situation but Hood responded immaculately and with finality as Goater tallied his third after 71 minutes and Smith closed out matter with another– his second — seven minutes later.
With day entering league leaders PHC unable to play Hood were able to move to 18 points from eight matches, while PHC stood still on 19 and X-Roads cold only manage a point of their own and also stand at 19 points, but with the superior goal difference over Zebras.
“I thought we were clinical at times, wasteful at others and overall we got the job done,” said acting head coach Figureido, standing in for John Nusum on the day. “Defensively we could b a bit better and we’ll work on that in training,
“Our guys up front are a tough bunch to handle when they re clicking and today they clicked in spurts, but we’d like to get a little more consistency.”
The coach was overly excited about his side moving closer to the top spot, especially as PHC now have a game in hand to go with a one point advantage.
Figuerido spoke to his concern regarding the impending match against X-Roads coming up in two weeks, which could go a way toward deciding who holds the league lead at the Christmas break.
“We do have a big game in two weeks time against X-Roads at Garrison Field which is to supposedly be a top of the tables clash.”
Meanwhile BAA coach Andrew Bascome expressed disappointment at he wide loss, but noted it to be no surprise as he believed from he start his team had not prepared well and neither had much depth to deal with the waves of pressure that usually come with Robin Hood.
“We didn’t play good at all, the preparation prior was not what it was supposed to be and that justified the result,” said Bascome, a former Bermuda national team player and head coach. “I wouldn’t say they were six goals better than us but we didn’t deserve anything today.
“Robin Hood have a good top five and you have to be strong in the defence and be able to track them going back in midfield, you have to work to do that and our preparation was not good enough for us to do that.”
