Robin Hood 3

Southampton Rangers 0

Antwan Russell is carrying on where he left off two years ago, after his brace helped Robin Hood secure their first win of the Premier Division season.

Southampton Rangers probably wished the striker, who spent last season playing in England with Ilkeston, had stayed away a little longer after he scored an early penalty and then closed out the rout with a third midway through the second half.

Russell has scored three goals in two games since returning to Hood. Jake Fox scored the other goal as Rangers were soundly beaten.

Before Rangers had time to work up a sweat, they found themselves 2-0 down in the first quarter of an hour.

Russell converted a penalty in the eighth minute after he was shoved over by Jahkai Hill.

Hood could have been three goals to the good by the time Fox added the second in the fourteenth minute — Corey Richardson parried a shot from Fox at the far post, then Russell smashed a shot against the woodwork with Richardson beaten.

Fox, in the thick of the action in the opening minutes, made it 2-0 when he met a cross to the far post where he slotted the ball past the goalkeeper.

After that, Hood were left to coast to victory, with Rangers having a good share of the possession but creating few clear-cut chances.

“I don’t think we played well today, we defended well and rode our luck at times,” said Kyle Lightbourne, the Hood coach.

“We scored at crucial times — two early goals and that helped us. Rangers had a lot more possession than us and we knew that from the beginning that they would look to play a more possession game.

“I just tried to set the team up according to the players that I have and it worked out for us. I’m happy that we’ve got four points after two games. The last time we were in this division, it took us quite a bit of time to get points on the board. I stressed to the guys that first and foremost we have to get points, then let the performances come after that.”

Russell’s return is timely as Jesse Kirkland, the First Division’s top scorer last season, is concentrating on sailing abroad at the moment.

“Jesse’s gone to the States to sail and will be a big miss this season, while Antwan is here probably until January,” Lightbourne said.

“We’ll have to see how that plays out. He latches onto things with his pace, he’s confident in finishing and always wants to score goals.”

Rangers continued to play with plenty of heart but it was not to be their day, as they lacked the cutting edge up front. They also missed the suspended Vernon Perinchief in midfield.

Russell went close to a second goal a minute after the restart but a partially unsighted Richardson made a smart one-handed save from a free kick that went through the defensive wall.

Hood continued to create the better chances, with Shaun Brown shooting wide before Fox twice set up Russell. The first effort was wasted, but the striker made amends a minute later when he beat defenders NeilDante Smith and Thomas Brown before scoring from an angle as Richardson scrambled back.

Substitute Shaki Swan and Jesse Seymour, the captain, both went close to scoring a consolation goal for Rangers in the closing minutes.