(after extra time) Cougars win 4-2 on penalties Devonshire Cougars took the long route into the next round of the Friendship trophy competition last night when they outscored arch-rivals Boulevard at PHC Stadium in the longest match of the season.

Last season a change in the rules governing the competition called for penalties at the end of extra time and this was the first match decided in that manner after both teams failed to find the net after more than two hours of soccer.

In fact it wasn't until midnight -- three hours after the match began -- that the majority of the spectators finally made their way home.

The match was made even longer by the addition of some 16 minutes stoppage or injury time in total added on by referee Peter Sousa at the end of the first half, at fulltime and then in extra time.

Cougars kept their cool in the penalty kicks as they scored their first four kicks -- including one by Steven Coddington that was taken three times -- while Boulevard missed two of their four as Vernon Eve and then Vernon Symonds had the misses that clinched it.

It began when Shawn Smith scored with the first kick and Dean Boyles replied for Boulevard. Dale Russell then scored to 'keeper Mitchell Steede's left as Eve then put his shot wide of the top right-hand corner to give Cougars an early advantage.

It remained that way after the third round when Darrid Durrant scored for Cougars and Mitchell Trott replied for Boulevard to make it 3-2 after three rounds.

There were some anxious moments on Cougars' fourth penalty when Coddington had to take his kick three times before finally scoring at the third attempt as Cougars' lead hung delicately in the balance.

However, one kick later it was all over as an overconfident Symonds, from just one step, placed his kick wide of Leon Place's right-hand post as Cougars jumped around in celebration.

The smiles were a long time coming after both teams wasted a host of chances during regulation and extra time.

Boulevard had the better of the chances as Place was the busier of the two goalkeepers. The closest either team came to score was late in the first half when Vernon Eve's shot hit the post before being cleared for a corner. Moments early Warren put a shot wide with his favoured left foot.

Several minutes were lost in the second half because of injuries which included head blows suffered by Vernon Symonds and Jamal Salaam.

Symonds returned with his head bandaged while Salaam was replaced by Marlon Lindsay who failed to boost the Cougars attack.

Boulevard: M.Steede; D.Boyles, L.Stevens, W.Richardson, A.Caisey; V.Eve, J.Samuels (V.Symonds 53min), D.Warren, M.Trott, A.Smith, M.Holdipp (N.Hull 84min).

Cougars: L.Place; J.Salaam (M.Lindsay 72min), D.Durrant, S.Smith, S.Coddington; D.Russell, C.Ashar, B.Richardson (T.Smith 45min), D.Brangman, P.Clarke, C.Campbell.

Referee: Peter Sousa.

Men of match: Albert Caisey (Boulevard), Leon Place (Cougars).

In the opening match Dandy Stars beat Somerset Terminators 3-0 in the women's FA Cup semi-final. Leah Woodley scored twice, after just four minutes and then again in the 73rd minute. Rose Kirkpatrick netted the second goal in the 57th minute.