Robin Hood 2 Devonshire Cougars 1

Lejuan Simmons’s late winner kept Robin Hood in the thick of what is shaping up to be an intriguing title race.

The Hood captain restored the home side’s lead at Goose Gosling Field with a tap-in three minutes from time to keep his team within striking distance of leaders PHC Zebras.

Simmons also had a hand in Antwan Russell’s opener that gave Hood a 1-0 lead at the half before Cougars hit back late through captain Moses Steede’s thumping free kick to set up a tense finish.

Cougars blew a golden opportunity to take the lead when the unmarked Allan Douglas shot wide of an empty net after Hood goalkeeper Timmy Figureido failed a cross.

Casey Hardtman then pulled off a brilliant save to deny Russell’s spectacular overhead kick, the Cougars goalkeeper tipping the ball onto the bar.

Hood had the ball in the back of the net in the 30th minute but Ereico Outerbridge’s effort was waived off after Russell was blown for a foul on Hardtman.

However, Hood would not be denied on their very next attack as Russell made the breakthrough. Simmons dummied a pass from midfield that left the Cougars defence flat-footed and Russell did the rest as he rounded the goalkeeper.

Cougars were unfortunate not to been back on even terms just before the half after Jawonday Smith had a goal disallowed for a foul on Figureido.

The visiting side were in the ascendancy now and their pressure finally paid off when Steede’s 20-yard free kick beat Figureido at the near post. Steede’s wonder strike appeared to have done enough for Cougars to salvage a share of the spoils. But Hood had other ideas and capitalised on poor defending, the unmarked Simmons sweeping in Russell’s cross after Cashun Brangman’s clearance was intercepted in his own half.

TEAMS

Robin Hood: T Figureido — P Franzioni, J Bather, J Titterton, J Pereira (sub: Z Burgess, 79min), C Ryan, E Outerbridge, M Burchall (sub: L Symonds, 68), C Caisey, L Simmons, A Russell. Substitutes not used: J Nusum. Booked: Titterton, Outerbridge.

Devonshire Cougars: C Hardtman — L Brangman (sub: D Williams, 77), Z White, C Maybury, C Brangman, D Simmons (sub: J Mouchette, 56), O Bascome, J Smith, M Steede, A Douglas (sub: Mark Steede, 72),

L Tota. Substitutes not used: N Carmichael, S Jones, J Wade, L Thomas. Booked: L Brangman.

Referee: M Wyer.