Substitute Donald Whitfield's cracking 22-yard volley late in the second half broke a 1-1 deadlock and sent St. George's through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup yesterday at Wellington Oval.

The battle of the east served up healthy doses of close calls and missed chances.

St. George's dominated the first half controlling most of the play.

Front-runners Sinclair Gibbons and Melvin Simmons combined well, though Gibbons seemed to lack that finishing touch.

A free kick was awarded to St. George's just outside St. David's 18-yard box in the first minute but Neil Paynter's shot went sailing over the bar.

St. David's looked disorganised in defence but they managed to thwart several St. George's attacks.

The only goal of the first half was scored by St. David's after nine minutes from a free kick awarded after St. George's centre-half Quinton Francis brought down James Pace just outside the area. Garic Swainson's shot found the net off a St. George's defender.

Both teams came close to scoring several times in the opening minutes, though St. George's, who had the wind at their back, missed several golden opportunities.

St. David's striker Pace failed to connect with a Jerry Laws cross inside the six-yard box in the 27th minute, and later St. David's goalkeeper Dale Fox tipped a thunderous shot from Melvin Simmons over the bar.

For much of the second half, St. George's appeared to have lost some momentum.

They seemed unable to string together passes.

All that changed in the 56th minute after midfielder Greg Foggo was brought down in the area by St. David's defender Chuck Waldron. Dwayne Richardson made no mistake. He coolly slotted the ball to Fox's left to equalise.

From that moment, St. George's found their focus and were almost ahead minutes later but Carlos Greaves sent his shot wide.

Whitfield, who replaced Sinclair Gibbons in the 61st minute, injected some badly-needed life into the St. George's attack. His well-placed volley in the 82nd minute put the game beyond St. David's reach.

Controversy loomed large in the final minutes when St. David's left-back Anthony Darrell received his marching orders after he was warned for dissent.

Darrell then swore at referee Peter Sousa who then promptly gave him a red card.

St. George's: T.Hall; A.Todd, D.Bailey, Q.Francis, N.Paynter, D.Richardson, C.Greaves, G.Foggo, M.Simmons (S.Dickinson, 73 mins); M.Outerbridge, S.Gibbons (D.Whitfield, 61 mins).

St. David's: D.Fox; A.Darrell, A.Lugo (M.Kelly, 67 mins); C.Waldron, G.Swainson, S.Pitcher, E.Crockwell, O.Minors, J.Laws, J.Pace, L.Cann.

Referee: Peter Sousa.

Men of the match: Donald Whitfield (St. George's); James Pace (St. David's).