Roots knock out holders Onions in penalty drama
The Commercial Cup was blown wide open in the first round with both holders MR Onions and losing finalists BAA both crashing out on penalties on Saturday.
Dandy Town Roots beat defending Onions 5-3 on spot kicks after the teams were 3-3 at the end of a pulsating game.
Roots used the open spaces of St. David?s field and produced their best display of passing football for over two years as the fitter, younger Onions were put to the test.
Roots struck in the first half when Michael Wells was left unmarked at the far post following a Walter Musson in-swinging free kick.
Onions equalised right on the stroke of half time when Darragh O?Donoghue converted a knock on from a corner.
Roots kept their passing game alive in the second half and were in front again when overlapping full back Calvin Blankendal went on a mazy run to the byline and squared the ball back to Darron Simons who calmly stroked the ball home from ten yards.
Onions refused to give in and were on level terms shortly afterwards through Eoghan O?Dwyer.
Roots thought they had won the match with the goal of the game. Root?s strikers Simons and Mark Trott worked one-twos through the heart of the Onions defence with Trott finishing off the move with a firm drive with 10 minutes remaining.
Onions again came back strongly when a long ball into the Roots penalty area was not dealt with and Onions? O?Donoghue was able to smash the ball home amid the confusion with two minutes left.
Roots were deadly from the spot and when Roots keeper Curtis Ahzar saved an Onions penalty from Keith Donald, it was game over for Onions, while Dandy Town are through to the next round.
Last season?s runners-up BAA also crashed out on penalties.
Tommy Gribbon scored after 10 minutes after the goalkeeper failed to hold a shot from Giuseppe Coco. There were plenty of missed chances at both ends.
Chris Worsick was sent off 65th minute for a late tackle in what was a very physical game. PHC equalised on 70 minutes and went on to triumph 3-2 on penalties.
Key West are hot favourites after defeating Wolves 8-0 with Quinton (Speedy) Burgess scoring a hat-trick and Sergio Griffin getting. The other goals coming from Zane Stowe, Ricky Mallory and a Roy Stevens penalty.
Lobster Pot pick up only their second win of the season with a 3-0 defeat of Hamilton Parish while fellow Division A team Island XI won by the same score against Prospect/Fire with goals coming from Paul Mello and Steven Simons.
There was a massive gap in class as North Village Rams stuck 10 past Dandy Town Roots C without reply.
Treadwell Walker, Damon Wade and Jamal Smith got two each, while Cal Dill jnr., Shawn Caisey, Elliot Jennings and Kevin Bailey all got in on the glory.
A Cleve Rodgers brace for Boulevard ended Somerset Bridge?s Peskies Cup dreams while a Ricardo Arruda hat-trick for Vasco dumped out Devonshire All-Stars.
Their local rivals Devonshire Rec Lions are still in it after beating Prison Officers 7-1 through goals by Shizaughn Smith, Wali Salaam (two), Leo Richardson, Shawn Showers, Chris Pitcher and Maxwell Dill.
St.George?s All-Stars go through after Dockyard Falcons showed up short.