A cold and blustery PHC Stadium played host to a marathon night of football as the final spots for Bermuda's prestigious New Year’s Day showpiece were decided.
On an evening where the elements threatened to steal the headlines, it was the clinical precision from the penalty spot and a solitary second-half strike that ensured North Village Rams and Robin Hood would advance to the hallmark finals at the Wellington Oval.
Shield Semi-Final
Somerset Trojans 0 (1) Robin Hood 0 (4)
The Shield semi-final provided a grueling war of attrition between the First Division’s top two sides, Somerset Trojans and Robin Hood.
Despite 90 minutes of high-intensity action followed by 30 minutes of extra time, neither side could find the decisive breakthrough in a scoreless marathon.
The deadlock forced a dramatic penalty shootout to determine who would meet Somerset Eagles in the final.
Robin Hood’s composure eventually shone through under the floodlights, with Xahvi DeRosa, Sebastian Madeiros, Keishen Bean, and James Cooper all converting their spot-kicks with clinical ease. Jaellan Greaves managed the lone successful effort for the Trojans, as Hood emerged 4–1 victors from the spot to keep their trophy hunt alive.
Friendship Semi-Final
North Village Rams 1 Devonshire Colts 0
The subsequent Friendship Trophy Semi-Final was a similarly cagey affair, as North Village Rams faced off against Devonshire Colts.
Following a back-and-forth opening 45 minutes that saw both teams struggle to adapt to the swirling winds, the match remained balanced at 0–0 at the interval.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 56th minute when Jonté Smith reacted quickest to find the back of the net, much to the delight of the Rams faithful.
The goal proved to be the winner, as Village’s defensive unit held firm to secure a 1–0 result. The win sets the stage for a heavyweight New Year’s Day final against defending champions Dandy Town Hornets, as the Rams look to reclaim one of the island's most coveted trophies.
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