North Village 3 Devonshire Cougars 2

Already psychologically in the ascendancy, North Village completed their mission improbable against Devonshire Cougars last night with a hard-fought 3-2 victory at BAA Field to advance to the FA Cup semi-finals.

Rams players and fans erupted joyously as the referee's whistle signalled the death knell for Cougars who were forced to replay their city rivals after blowing a 3-1 lead on Sunday to be held to a draw after a dramatic extra time.

However, discouraged Cougars coach Andrew Bascome stated pointedly after last night's loss that the big cats were their own worst enemies for refusing to embrace his tactics in training.

“The biggest problem starts before they even get on the field. I knew we had a problem with cross-field balls but I keep getting questions from players when I try to show them what to do at practice. Maybe we need a change in player personnel,” he declared in open frustration.

“They don't appreciate the tactical side and until they do we will continue to suffer.”

Cougars - also suffering from the absence of frontline players Raymond Beach, Heys Wolfe and Omar Butterfield who are entangled in a drug-testing controversy - drew first blood in the fast-paced and highly-entertaining fixture.

Only nine minutes into the match, irrepressible forward Domico Coddington got behind Village's defence on a long ball from midfield and, though his initial effort was partially blocked by goalkeeper Adrian Burrows, kept his composure enough to pivot and deliciously curl the rebound into the net's top left corner.

Village protested for offside against the scorer but, after conferring with his linesman, referee Lyndon Raynor upheld the 1-0 advantage.

The Rams need not have fretted as they levelled the scoreline via a calm Ralph Bean Jr header ten minutes later - the end result of a well-executed free kick by Kevin Jennings from beyond the left corner of the 18-yard box.

Adding insult to injury, Village surged ahead 2-1 in the 28th minute when a poor goal kick by defender Darius Cox landed barely 30 yards into Cougars' half and at the feet of an opposing player. Three swift passes set up Jemieko Jennings for one of his trademark thunderbolts which rushed through a thicket of legs and nestled in the net.

It could almost have been 3-1 to Village as Cougars custodian Dyke Lawrence flung his fist wildly at a slow, swirling ball skied in from Bean on the right wing and totally missed his intended clearance. That error nearly cost Cougars dearly but, danger averted, they evened matters before the half as Coddington again slipped the defence and tapped the ball past Burrows in the 32nd minute.

The match's outcome hinged on two key incidents. The first was a North Village penalty - awarded in the 52nd minute when Cougars defender Jamal Simmons handled the ball in a goalmouth skirmish - which was clinically attended to by skipper Bean to give his team the vital 3-2 lead.

The next was a display of sheer grit and guts by Village defender Kofi Dill to rescue the honours for his team. About 17 minutes were left in the riveting contest when Coddington - to whom Dill had stuck like white on rice after the break - got free with a good through ball on the right edge of the area.

The Cougars marksman delicately chipped the oncoming Burrows and, for everyone but Dill, Coddington's effort had goal written all over it. The determined Rams defender sped forward, somehow flung himself - body first - inside the goal and kicked the ball to safety just in time.

Spectators roared at his brilliance which was indicative of the spirit that revived Village's desperate hopes from the abyss of defeat on Sunday and which has now carried them into the final four.

North Village: A.Burrows, J.Thomas, J.Hayward (M.Crane, 63 mins), Kentoine Jennings, M.Hansey, K.Dill, R.Bean Jr, J.Jennings (T.Jennings, 71 mins), Q.Paynter, Keith Jennings, Kevin Jennings.

Devonshire Cougars: D.Lawrence, S.Smith, D.Cox, J.Simmons (M.Smith, 85 mins), N.Robinson, K.Goddard, J.Deshields (R.Swan, 71 mins), J.Butterfield, C.Caisey, D.Coddington, K.Steede.

Yellow cards: J.Jennings, K.Dill (North Village); K.Goddard, J.Deshields (Devonshire).

Men of the Match: K.Dill (North Village); S.Smith (Devonshire).

Referee: L.Raynor.