Devonshire Colts 2 PHC 3

A three-goal blitz within 10 minutes early in the second half saw FA Cup powerhouses PHC come from behind to win this all-Premier Division first round tie at White Hill Field yesterday.

Despite holding a decisive edge for long spells in the opening half, the Zebras fell behind to a goal by centre-back McKonnen Hollis after 35 minutes. But they fought back like tigers when play re-started for the second half with goals by Tokia Russell, substitute Stephen Astwood and Dennis Russell giving them a deserved victory.

Aljame Zuill pulled one back for Colts after 76 minutes - a gift when goalkeeper Ramon Glasford failed to hold Shannon Burgess' free kick - but the tame goal from a rebound only served to make the scoreline look closer than it should.

Although they won, it was a frustrating day for PHC who too often demonstrated an inability to turn chances into goals, especially in the second half. The main culprit was striker Dennis Russell, although his colleagues also showed a similar ineptness in front of goal.

Colts also endured their fair share of misses with Mark Ray coming up with the first blunder after just 10 minutes, blasting a ball over from 16 yards after having made plenty of room in front of goal in what would prove to be a rare successful run through the defence.

In the first half it was PHC who grabbed the major share of play with Blenn Bean a master in midfield, rallying to aid his defence and then providing his forwards with defence-splitting passes only to find their finishing wanting.

It was during an isolated attack that Hollis put Colts ahead, steering the ball home from a goalmouth scramble following a centre from a free-kick by Jamal Smith.

PHC responded with Bean, Alale Furbert and Dennis Russell putting shots wide and Bean eventually coming the closest a minute before the break when goalkeeper Khabir Dill fell to the ground to smother his fierce shot from 16 yards.

Conscious of the fact that they needed to accelerate early, PHC did exactly that when play re-started and a Colts' defence, marshalled well by centre-backs Burgess and Hollis, were soon stretched.

PHC went forward pretty much non-stop and it was only a matter of time before the goals came.

Bean created the equaliser after 57 minutes when he crossed and Tokia and Dennis Russell teamed up with the former being awarded the goal even though the fans thought the latter had scored.

Eight minutes later Astwood made it 2-1 when he put home a cross from Tokia Russell and then after 67 minutes PHC took a decisive 3-1 lead with Dennis Russell scoring from close range after taking possession of a Tokia Russell cross.

The hard-working Zuill pulled one back for Colts after 76 minutes but the PHC defence were in mood to hand out any further Christmas gifts.

PHC besieged Colts penalty area near the end but Astwood and Dennis Russell failed to make good of relatively easy chances - Russell astonishingly missing a cross from Tokia Russell when he was three yards out from goal.

St. George's All-Stars 0

Prospect 2

Commercial Leaguers St. George's missed two early chances that could have made the result of this FA Cup first round clash at Lord's yesterday look entirely different.

The minnows first saw Jan Gitten power his shot over after being put through the middle by Lionel Cann, and then Cann provided another through ball that saw Terrence Carlington astonishingly miss the target three minutes later.

With those misses went All-Stars' chance of advancing to the next round as their First Division opponents quickly took over and dominated play for the remainder of the game.

Vic Ball put Prospect ahead after 52 minutes and the second goal came after 80 minutes when Phillip Bailey, who had missed three previous attempts, finally found the target.