Somerset Eagles 2 Devonshire Cougars 5

Domico Coddington struck twice as Devonshire Cougars cruised into the semi-finals of the FA Challenge Cup with a comfortable win over Somerset Eagles at White Hill Field.

The visitors took control for the opening stages, dominating the ball and getting into dangerous positions. Their best chance of the opening 15 minutes came when Chris Caisey fired a powerful effort against the near post from just outside the penalty area.

Minutes later, Cougars made their dominance pay. A quick move through midfield culminated with Chekai Caisey finding Coddington in space, before the attacker fired low past goalkeeper Joshua Roberts.

Midway through the first half, the former Bermuda international was involved in the play, finding Chekai Caisey on the edge of the box. The midfielder tucked home past Roberts to double the lead.

The three-time FA Cup champions further increased their lead after Coddington completed his brace from a goalmouth scramble after Eagles failed to clear from a corner delivered by Drewonde Bascome. Just before half-time, Jecoa Thomas found Darren Williams on the right flank, before the latter made it four just before the break.

Eagles pushed hard to recover an almost insurmountable lead at the beginning of the second half. They would pull one back just before the hour, with Ethan Fubler finding a beautifully lofted ball through for Shakir Smith to control and side-foot past Kioshi Trott.

However, right on the hour mark, Cougars restored the four-goal lead. Two substitutes combined as Juma Mouchette squared for Lejaun Simmons to control and curl into the far corner.

Midway through the second half, Eagles nearly scored again. Ethan Fubler skipped past his man and fired a speculative long-range effort towards goal, but Trott was equal to it and tipped over the bar.

In stoppage time, Eagles found a second consolation. Keedai Astwood clipped a free kick in from just inside the opposition half, but the visitors failed to clear and Marcus Iris-Simmons was unmarked at the far post to fire past Trott.

Cougars head coach Kwame Steede was pleased with their first-half specifically. “We played well in the first period,” he said. “We showed our quality.”

Steede, a former Cougars player, said his team lacked discipline.

“Everyone wanted to score,” he added. “We lost concentration when we made the changes.”

SCORERS

Somerset Eagles: Smith 52; Iris-Simmons 90

Devonshire Cougars: Coddington 18, 39; Chekai Caisey 28; Williams 44; L Simmons 60

TEAMS

Somerset Eagles (4-2-3-1): J Roberts 4 – K Astwood 5, H Butterfield 4, S Lambert 3, M Iris-Simmons 4 – D Joell 5, R Saggar 5 – E Fubler 6, D Simmons 5 (sub: J Rumley 46 5), Z Smith 5 – S Smith 5. Substitutes not used: A Telford, K Durrant

Devonshire Cougars (4-2-3-1): K Trott 5 – J Thomas 6, Q Maynard 5, T Tucker 5, Zion Simmons 5 (sub: J Mouchette 52 5) – Chris Caisey 6, Zari Simmons 6 – Chekai Caisey 6 (sub: L Simmons 61 5), D Bascome 6 (sub: K Minors 61 5), D Williams 5 (sub: N Simmons 61 5) – D Coddington 7 Substitutes not used: M Battersbee, C Albouy, R Simmons

Referee: A Francis