Kwame Steede, the Dandy Town Hornets coach, admits he was relieved his side advanced to the semi-finals of the Dudley Eve Trophy after they blew a two-goal lead and then saw PHC Zebras miss two penalties in a thrilling 3-3 draw at the National Stadium last night.

Town needed just a draw to claim the second spot from group B but were almost denied as a brave PHC fightback in the second half kept the tie wide open.

“It was a poor performance on our behalf, we had a great first half but the second half was definitely poor for us,” Steede said.

“We were lucky to come away with a draw. We weren’t deserving of the victory or the draw, but luck was on our side and we’ll take it.”

Town deserved the fourteenth minute lead given to them by Cecoy Robinson, the former PHC player, who netted his first Town goal when he drove a high shot past goalkeeper Shaquille Trott from inside the box.

Captain Angelo Simmons almost doubled the lead in the 36th minute when he cut in on the left and smashed a right-footed shot against the far upright.

Simmons made amends three minutes into the second half when he scored from an angle into the near post to double the Town lead.

That goal brought PHC to life as they produced a fantastic response, pulling one back four minutes later when Kushae Hypolite scored after a quick break and pass from captain Marco Warren.

It was now a different game as PHC enjoyed a good spell with defender Na’eem Griffith shooting wide from a corner and then having a header saved.

PHC missed their first penalty in the 72nd minute when substitute Enrique Russell was fouled. He took the spot-kick himself, which goalkeeper Julian Rosser saved comfortably to his right.

Town converted a penalty through Simmons to make it 3-1 in the 77th minute before PHC fought back to 3-2 and then 3-3 with goals from Russell and sub Joshua Joseph in the 80th and 82nd minutes.

PHC missed another penalty in the 85th minute after Griffith was fouled from a corner and this time Warren watched in disbelief as his effort grazed the upright.

Nyhrobi Carmichael, a 65th minute sub for Town, was sent off in the stoppage time for a second yellow card. Seven other players, four for PHC and three for Town, were booked during the match.