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Spot kick seals Somerset's fate

A dubious penalty, converted by Earl Richardson after 21 minutes, carried Vasco into the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the third straight season in this bruising contest at Somerset yesterday.

Corey Hill, in behind the flat-footed Somerset defence on the end of a quickly-taken Mark Ray free kick, appeared to handle the ball in his efforts to get around goalkeeper Andre Hendrickson.

But all referee Stuart Crockwell acknowledged was the 'keeper bringing down the forward and the resultant decision was academic.

Richardson sent Hendrickson the wrong way with his kick and that goal proved decisive although Vasco had ample opportunities to run up the score.

The Trojans defence was again missing Jermaine Burrows (ribs injury) and his absence proved crucial.

An out-of-shape Shaun Roberts committed three bad fouls in the first nine minutes. He was booked on the third occasion, and then replaced by Jerry Webb in the 20th minute unable to shake off a knock from Dwight Basden.

Another defender to take an early shower was Duane DeRoza, but in his case a second bookable offence midway through the second half earned a red card.

Nevertheless, Somerset coped reasonably well with the key sources of their anguish a week ago, Hill and Irving Burgess, but former Trojan Basden ran them ragged with his perseverance.

Somerset's best move of the first half ended with Rodney Bascome volleying over.

Curtis Grant, asked to move from left midfield to left-back after Roberts limped off, nearly drew Somerset level in the 26th minute but Vasco 'keeper Timmy Figureido just got a hand to his 30-yard cross-shot and turned it wide.

Vasco had the better of the rest of the half, mostly through Hill and Walton Burgess combining well on the left.

A superb Basden cross on the stroke of half-time provided Hill with another great chance but his header beat the left upright as well as Hendrickson.

The home side, fortunate to be only one goal down at the interval, gave their frustrated fans hope in the second half as they played with more conviction and determination. The missing ingredient, however, was a goal.

Bascome did well in the 52nd minute to hook a cross past Figureido but Reggie Tucker just failed to connect with a header.

At the other end, Irving Burgess volleyed wide when well placed and Kentoine Jennings, who enjoyed a commanding game, had a firm header plucked out of the air by Hendrickson.

Then, Somerset really should have scored.

Webb burst into open space on the left in the 64th minute and hit a hard, low drive that Bascome got on the end of but helped over the top from 10 yards with the 'keeper at his mercy.

Figureido earned his keep in the second half with a series of timely interventions. He needed to be especially brave in the 66th minute to cut out Lamaul Crofton's low cross with Bascome pouncing.

Then, the luckless Bascome shot wide with his last chance before the coaching staff ended his misery and brought on Antoine Brangman.

DeRoza's dismissal, for a heinous tackle on a streaking Irving Burgess, did little to help Somerset's cause but they did outplay Vasco the rest of the way.

Somerset forced three consecutive corners in the 82nd minute and on the last one Grant shot over when a partial clearance fell to him 15 yards out on on the left.

Kwame Tucker had a dipping shot go over from 20 yards, then Hendrickson's reflexes twice kept the home team in with a shout of forcing extra time.

He first got a touch to a Burgess header, which slammed off the upright and then denied Karl Roberts, with Hill instrumental in both plays.

Somerset: A.Hendrickson; D.DeRoza, S.Roberts (J.Webb, 20 mins), N.Woods, A.Rahman; C.Grant, R.Simmons, R.Tucker; K.Tucker, R.Bascome (A.Brangman, 71 mins), L.Crofton.

Vasco: T.Figureido; E.Richardson, D.Livingston, K.Jennings, D.Stapley; W.Burgess (P.Towlson, 73 mins), K.Roberts, M.Ray; C.Hill, D.Basden, I.Burgess.

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.

Men of the match: Andre Hendrickson (Somerset); Kentoine Jennings (Vasco).