WESTERN BUREAU

A hat-trick by Devon Hodges gave Rivoli United a 3-1 victory over Village United in the Digicel Premier League match at the Elleston Wakeland Centre in Falmouth yesterday.

Hodges opened the scoring in the 40th minute after Village United made the cardinal sin of leaving him unmarked in the penalty box as he received a cross, controlled, then pushed the ball off to rocket it past 'keeper Jacomeno Barrett.

The second came by way of a penalty in the 53rd minute, when he sent Barrett the wrong way.

Sealed the issue

Hodges sealed the issue in the 72nd minute when he was again given a ball on the edge of the penalty box, which he controlled then meticulously placed into the far corner away from Barrett.

Village United's consolation goal came in the 75th minute when goalkeeper Selvin Collins failed to hold an Ian McAnuff free kick, which rebounded into the path of Everett Mullings, who made no mistake.

"The goal broke the back of Village and we were able to step up our game," Rivoli's coach Bradley Stewart said.

He also congratulated Hodges, whom he said has extended his leading goalscoring position to 17.

Village United's player/coach Edmond Kingston said fatigue and injury played a major role in the outcome, noting that "we played a hard game on Sunday".

Rivoli stayed eighth, but advanced to 31 points, while Village stayed bottom of the 12-team standings on 22 points.