Clevie to the rescue for frustrated Cougars
A well executed goal by Clevie Campbell in the 75th minute finally put paid to Commercial Division side St. George's All-Stars at Devonshire Rec. after the visitors had frustrated the high-riding Second Division side for the majority of the match.
Cougars, with seven goals in their two league games so far, were having trouble breaking through a stubborn All-Stars rearguard that had 44-year-old goalkeeper David (Goat) Brangman as its last line of defence.
Brangman, trimmer now than when he was playing 15 years ago, helped keep Cougars at bay as the home team struggled to capitalise on numerous chances.
However, with 15 minutes remaining Brangman was finally beaten as a sigh of relief could be heard amongst the Cougars players. Brangman's kick from the right side of his penalty box only went as far as Campbell waiting on the edge of the box and his quick reaction resulted in a first time header that was steered into the empty net. Brangman was only able to watch helplessly.
All-Stars, who spent virtually all of the second half on the defensive, pushed forward in a desperate attempt to pull back the goal and came close to doing so in the 84th minute when Kenny Pearman's header from a corner on the left hit the far post in the 84th minute.
Like the second, Cougars also dominated the first half with Dale Russell and Stephen Coddington both going close before Troy Burgess had a shot turned around a post by keeper David Brangman on the half hour.
The All-Stars had their best opportunity in the first half in the 11th minute when a pass found Mikey Steede inside the box and his volley was pushed over the bar by 'keeper Leon Place.
Brangman was by far the busier of the two 'keepers, making a brave save at the feet of Troy Burgess early in the second half. He also used his agility to tip the ball over the bar from a header from Troy Smith following a Cougars corner in the 63rd minute.
As he left the field, Cougars veteran Dale Russell quipped: "No more Commercial teams!'' Unfortunately he did not get his wish as Cougars will meet Forties in the next round.
Lobster Pot 2 Island Rangers 2 (after extra time) Yesterday's opening game at White Hill field provided many exciting moments as both teams exchanged the lead before playing to a well contested draw.
Goal scorers for Lobster Pot were Kevin Wilken and James Sutcliff and replying for Rangers were Michael Bremar and Troy Berkeley.
Rangers got things started in the second half when Bremar blasted his shot past the keeper after receiving a fine cross from Steve Berkeley in the 57th minute. However, Lobster Pot stormed back and after Rangers' Roger Williams misplayed a back pass, Pot's Wilken pounced on the chance and fired a rocket, in the 82nd minute, past stranded Rangers' keeper Tyrone Berkeley from 20 yards.
Lobster Pot took the lead in the second overtime period when Jimmy Sutcliff, who started the game in goal, fired in a fierce volley when the Ranger's defence failed to clear a crossed ball. With gained momentum Lobster Pot attacked in droves but came up short on a few opportunities.
However, ten minutes into the second period of overtime, Rangers took the sting out of Lobster Pot when a mid-air collision between a Lobster Pot defender and his 'keeper saw the ball pop out to a waiting Troy Berkeley who scored to force a replay as neither team could break the deadlock in the final five minutes of the game.
Spinning Wheel 0 Somerset Eagles 5 Second Division Somerset Eagles hammered Commercial Division `A' team Spinning Wheel at PHC Stadium, despite having Joe Moniz sent off for kicking Keith Bell in the foot in an off-the-ball incident.
Eagles took an early lead through Warren Iris after a superb pass from Terrence Christopher.
Christopher increased the Eagles lead after half-an-hour when he ended a fine run by rounding Spinning Wheel goalkeeper Dwayne Trott and slotting the ball home from an angle out on the left.
Wheel's Allan Fray missed a golden chance to get his team back in the game early in the second half but he shot weakly at 'keeper Robin Stovell.
The sending off of Moniz only appeared to motivate Eagles even more and they quickly turned the match into a rout.
Kevin Simons headed home from two yards out in the 68th minute following a great run and cross by Everett Wellman.
Eagles scored two goals in the last six minutes to add to Wheel's humiliation.
Stephen Burrows ended an intense spell of goalmouth pressure by hitting home from seven yards.
Wheel's day of misery was summed up by a gift goal from their goalkeeper just before the final whistle when Trott crouched to scoop up a weak shot from Everett Wellman but allowed it to go through his legs.
BATTLING IT OUT -- Devonshire fullback Kenneth Swan gets a jump on St.
George's forward Mikey Steede in this first-half battle for possession at Devonshire Rec.