Key West look odds-on favourites for the Commercial Cup after they survived a second round scare against Dandy Town Roots before going through on penalties.

The teams were deadlocked 4-4 after 90 pulsating minutes at St. John’s Field on Saturday although Roots were reduced to ten men early in the first half when goalkeeper Wayne Campbell was shown a red card for handling the ball outside the area.

Roots were leading 1-0 at the time thanks to a Gershon Gibbons drive from 18 yards. Key West equalised shortly after but Roots were soon back in front when Darron Simons made their opponents pay for complacency in defence.

Just before the half, Sergio Griffin equalised from a header. Key West then went in front when sub Herbie Bascombe sent a left footed shot into the far corner.

Roots came back through Simons shortly after. Key West thought they had won it when, late in game, their striker poked home a loose ball after confusion between the Roots defender and their stand-in keeper. However, with time running out, Justin Robinson equalised after good work on the right.

During the penalty shoot-out, Roots twice hit the upright while Key West converted all of their spot kicks and now advance to the quarter-finals.

Division B side Valley pulled off an upset when they dumped out A side PHC Raiders who paid for some wasteful finishing by Al Thomas and Keith Bell.

Donovan Hensdieks pounced on a defensive mix-up to put Valley ahead in the first half. In the second period Valley again absorbed pressure and Raiders had chance to tie things up as a Valley player handled in the box. But Sheridan (Baldy) Ming’s poorly-struck spot-kick was easily saved.

Valley sub Johnny Eve wrapped things up when he shot home from the right side to beat keeper Waldron.

Commercial Cup holders MR Onions A were knocked out in the last round but their second string over-30s side, Real Men C, will carry the club flag into the next round after they beat B Division Boulevard.

Real Men weathered a storm in the first half and broke the deadlock early in the second half when sub Mikey Baker bundled the ball home.

The lead was short-lived after Wayne Richardson powered in a header from a corner and after finishing all level the match went to a penalty shoot-out.

Boulevard were allowed to twice retake missed penalties only to fail again as Onions stand-in keeper Greg Rymon-Lipinski pulled off several crucial saves to send his side through to the quarters.

Commercial A leaders North Village Rams found it tough going against B Division high-flyers St. George’s All-Stars but finally triumphed 3-2.

The classy Rams immediately took the game to the home team and a sustained period of pressure resulted in a clinically executed goal from Tillman Darrell.

All-Stars tried to get back in the game but soon fell further behind when Steven Coddington scored Rams’ second. All-Stars were given a lifeline when referee George O’Brien awarded a disputed penalty when defender Steven Denbrook, playing his first game of the season, drove into the Rams box and was sandwiched off the ball.

Delbert Minors stepped up to confidently put All-Stars back in the game.

O’Brien then showed the red card to Rams’ Kevin Bailey for foul language. Despite being a man down Rams went 3-1 up when Coddington grabbed another goal but a splendid long-range Minors effort kept St. George’s in the hunt.

Tuff Dogs handed out a 9-2 drubbing to Pest Control.

Dogs’ Jeff Franklin netted three while Brian Mutch, Danny Faria, Chris Pett, Joe Carolo, Chris Sousa and Ian Rayner all tallied. Pest Control scored through Aaron Brown and a Michael O’Brien penalty.

Lobster Pot got the better of their all-A Division clash with Island XI, dominating the first half and leading through Torriano Trott who dispatched a Jameel Effendy flick-on after a cross from the right.

A comical headed own goal by Ken Mahadeo woke up sleepy Pot 15 minutes from time and Trott grabbed his second to spare Pot’s blushes.

Somerset Extros were made to work hard for their 5-4 win over Vasco.

Four-nil up at half-time after Mark Grant struck twice and Mike Corday and David Burchall tallied Extros looked to be cruising. But two goals each from Paul Frias and Ricardo Arruda put Vasco back in the hunt.

Two late David Burchall strikes eventually saw Extros through to the next round.

Robin Hood had a similar scare against B Division outfit Devonshire Lions. Three-nil up at half-time through a Brian Atkinson double and one from Kenny Dill, Hood were already looking forward to the next round.

But two goals from Phillip Clarke and one from Dwayne Bean put Hood under pressure before a goal from Hood manager Mark Ray clinched the tie.

[obox] In a C Division make-up game Wolves shared the points in a 3-3 thriller with Dockyard Falcons.

Wolves opened the scoring when their leading goalscorer Horace Landy calmly netted after a through ball from Emmanuel King-Batsios. Andre Outerbridge replied with a superb lob over the Wolves keeper.

Dwayne DeRosa gave Falcons their first lead shortly before half-time with a header from a fine cross from the left by Sean Symons. Halfway through the second half DeRosa put Falcons 3-1 ahead with a 20-yard scorcher. Wolves looked tired and out of the game, but Dockyard lost possession in their defensive third allowing King-Batsios to score a dipping shot from 25 yards. Then Mark Tankard sent a hard shot along the ground inside the far post from 16 yards with five minutes remaining to tie it at 3-3.