Devonshire Cougars 1 Dandy Town 1

(aet; 1-1 at 90min; Town win 5-4 on penalties)

Both teams entered this competition having won the Friendship Trophy four times each, but it was the Dandy Town Hornets who prevailed, advancing to the next round with a 5-4 victory on penalties in a tightly fought contest at Devonshire Recreation Club last night.

Cougars took a deserved lead in the 28th minute when Town goalkeeper Toran Place hesitated to come off his line to collect a diagonal cross from Che’Kai Caisey, allowing Jayori Fox to nip in front and steal the ball to tuck it into an empty net.

Town found the equaliser through a penalty in the 51st minute. Oneko Lowe dribbled the ball across the face of goal and was fouled inside the area. Captain Tomiko Goater stepped up and buried his spot kick to the left of Cougars goalkeeper Q’Shai Darrell, who dived the right way but could not stop the strike.

Despite chances at both ends, neither team managed to find the net again, sending the match into extra time. Both sides showed plenty of attacking intent but lacked the cutting edge to secure the winner, leaving the contest to be decided by penalties.

Cougars suffered a significant blow when goalkeeper Darrell pulled out injured just as the shoot-out was set to begin. The responsibility of stopping spot kicks fell to striker Domico Coddington, who donned the goalkeeper’s jersey as an emergency measure. Despite the unusual situation, Coddington performed admirably, saving Goater’s firm effort to give his team hope.

But Town’s goalkeeper Toran Place proved to be the hero of the night, saving three penalties from Cougars. With the score level heading into the decisive kick, substitute Tavez Smith stepped up and calmly converted past Coddington to seal victory for Dandy Town and ensure their progression to the next round.

SCORERS

Devonshire Cougars: Fox 28

Dandy Town: Goater 51 pen