Last month Antwon Russell ducked out of representing his country because of travel jitters but yesterday he was ?flying high? for his club as PHC sent defending FA Cup champions Dandy Town packing 3-1 in the second round.

Two clinical strikes within the opening half-hour by the young marksman signalled the beginning of an uphill climb for the Hornets who never came to grips with the faster, more aggressive and more purposeful home team at Southampton Oval.

While some may speculate just how much Town were affected by the tragic events of recent days, with one of their ace players Randy Swan fighting for his life in hospital after a horrific car accident, nothing can be taken away from the Zebras.

They came, executed and accomplished their mission with 90 minutes of exhilarating football that continually evoked cheers of delight and approval from their throngs of fans.

Only fleetingly, towards the end of the first half when Town pulled back a goal and gained some ascendancy, did Mark Wade?s men seem in danger of straying from their strategy.

However, they returned with great intensity and a clear determination not to stumble any further as they charted a path towards one of their most memorable results this season.

It showed why they are but a few points behind frontrunners and titleholders Town in the Premier Division race and certainly underlined their potential threat in that competition also.

PHC opened their goal account in the seventh minute when the lanky Russell was a step ahead of the defence and picked up on a good through ball midway in Town?s half and powered forward.

His initial shot was blocked by Hornets goalkeeper Daniel Johnson but Russell quickly slammed the rebound into the net?s bottom left corner.

Though still not looking up to par, Town came close to equalising twice as striker Kevin Hurdle missed a far-post opportunity from a Dennis Zuill free kick before being thwarted from point-blank range by the late boot of Jahuon Mallory.

Confident in attack, Zebras ? with Kevin Lambe and Jahnai Raynor showing some savvy moves ? rained terror on Town with a succession of crosses and shots that asked some unanswerable questions of the likes of Maurice Lowe, David Lawler and Zuill.

Russell was a constant menace and it was no surprise when he completed his brace in the 28th minute to make the scoreline 2-0.

It was a goal for which Lambe could take credit, out-foxing the usually defiant Lawler deep in the right corner before bobbing and weaving his way into the box and leaving his team-mate to administer the last rites.

Town looked a beaten side and with team officials screaming instructions and disgust from the sidelines it was obvious the St. John?s Road club needed to react soon ? and they did.

In the 42nd minute, a Jared Peniston corner found Carlos Smith alone on the left edge of the area, with time to settle himself, he unleashed a right-foot thunderbolt that rocked the net.

Suddenly, it was game on.

At 2-1 down, a Hornets comeback was quite probable but PHC regained their composure in the second half and went further ahead. Chris Furbert Jr. smashed home from close range in the 52nd minute following a throw in and this again gave Zebras freedom to showcase their flair and initiative with a two-goal cushion.

Try as they did ? and they came mighty close on several occasions ? Town could not get past Jay Smith again. The one time they did, Mallory cleared a curling shot by Smith off the line.

Meanwhile Kenny Mills, Jahnai Raynor and others never let Town?s defence rest as PHC rolled on to an impressive and deserved win which could easily have been by a much wider margin. J.Smith, A.Furbert, T.Russell, R.Richardson, J.Mallory, K.Lambe (D.Hunt, 73 mins), C.Furbert Jr (D.Outerbridge, 82 mins), B.Bean, J.Raynor, K.Mills, A.Russell (O.Shakir, 62 mins). D.Johnson, D.Zuill, D.Lawler (A.Outerbridge, 42 mins), M.Lowe, C.Anderson, L.Furbert, C.Smith, O.Steede, S.Tuzo (L.Holder, 55 mins), J.Peniston, K.Hurdle (L.Dill, 55 mins). A.Russell, B.Bean, R.Richardson (PHC); K.Hurdle (Dandy Town). K.Lambe (PHC); C.Anderson (Dandy Town).S.Crockwell.