by Earl Basden (www.islandstats.com)

Saturday, May 10, 2008

HAMILTON, BER -- The Bermuda Hogges won their second straight game, downing the visiting Pittsburgh Riverhounds Saturday night 2-1 to move to 2-1-0 on the season.

The visitors kicked the game off at the National Sports Center just as the heavens opened. The Bermuda Hogges won the game's first corner in the fourth minute when a Lashun Dill cross was played out by a defender.

Eight minutes into the first half Keishen Bean challenged a defender deep in the Riverhounds half and the ball fell to Damon Ming who’s low right footed shot from just outside the box beat the Riverhounds goalkeeper Phil Marfuggi.

In the 13th minute the referee suspended play due to lightening around the National Sports Center for 12 minutes. Play began again with the Riverhounds taking their third corner of the first half.

In the 15th minute Hogges goalkeeper Timmy Figureido dove to his right to deny Nathan Salsi a header. A pass from Kwame Steede sent Ming on his way down the left and his cross was cleared for a corner.

The second half got underway with the Hogges winning a free kick within a minute of the restart.

Seven minutes into the down a ball from Stephen Astwood sent DeVaun DeGraff through but his shot was blocked by Marfuggi. Steede beat two defenders and slipped the ball to Bean who’s cross was hit high over the bar by Ming.

A long ball forward by the Riverhounds saw Travis MacKenzie beat Figureido to the ball but his lob went just wide. Kwame Steede had a shot blocked away for a corner from just inside the penalty area. In the 72nd minute John Barry Nusum came close to doubling the Hogges lead when his powerful header went just wide.

In the 75th minute Keishen Bean got on the end of a Ming cross and gave the Hogges a much deserved 2–0 lead.

In the 80th minute Travis MacKenzie came close to pulling a goal back but Figureido saved his point blank shot.

In the 85th minute a cross from Jason Kutney was put away by substitute Leon Browne to make the score 2–1.