St George’s Colts 3 St David’s 2

St George’s made certain of being a part of the New Year’s Day activities at their home field when two late goals by Donavan Thompson at Goose Gosling Field yesterday took them into the Shield Trophy final.

The match followed a similar pattern to a year ago in the preliminary round of the Shield — also at Goose Gosling Field — when St David’s led 1-0 at the interval before St George’s turned around the match with two goals in the final eight minutes from Jarreau Hayward.

This time it looked like being a different outcome after left-footed strikes from James Pace and Dunte Albouy twice gave St David’s the lead in the first half.

However two goals from Thompson in four minutes shattered St David’s hopes of reaching the final.

Pace gave them an early lead when he smashed the ball into the far corner from the edge of the box, following up after Kevin Hurdle’s shot came off a defender.

St George’s were level six minutes later when Jarazinho Bassett poked a low shot past Mikkail Crockwell after a quick break down the left side.

However, St David’s were claiming a foul on Hurdle before St George’s started the move in their own half.

Hurdle was knocked off his feet in a challenge but referee Tracy Adams waved play on as St George’s advanced up field and capitalised.

Both teams battled hard in the derby match, with Crockwell making an important save in the 33rd minute when he turned a shot from Thompson around the post after the striker exchanged passes with Bassett inside the box.

Emotions boiled over minutes later when St George’s players reacted to a challenge on their goalkeeper Charles Marshall from Hurdle after a high ball inside the box.

Hurdle, already on a yellow card, challenged Marshall when a ball was wildly booted back from near the halfway line by Thompson. Marshall needed treatment after the challenge.

St David’s reclaimed the lead just before the break when a ball from Pace sent Albouy away towards the penalty box and he struck a sweet left-footed shot into the far corner.

St David’s held their slim lead until late into the second half when pressure from St George’s turned the match around. Substitute Macai Simmons went close to equalising when he had a shot from point-blank range blocked by Crockwell.

St George’s did make it 2-2 a minute later when a defensive lapse allowed Thompson to get through and score past Crockwell who was left exposed after coming off his line.

Albouy immediately had a good chance to restore the St David’s lead, but he steered his shot wide after a move down the left opened up the St George’s defence.

Thompson netted his second goal when he headed home at the far post after a corner on the left.

Simmons then missed from six yards after following up a shot from Thompson that was parried by the goalkeeper.

SCORERS

St George’s Colts

Bassett 16, Thompson 78, 82

St David’s

Pace 10, Albouy 44

TEAMS

St George’s (4-3-3): C Marshall — E Signor, J Hayward, P Anderson, J Darrell — Z Smith-Tucker (sub: T Talbot, 90+5min), K Denbrook, D Signor — J Bassett, D Thompson (sub: W Broadley, 90), A Douglas (sub: M Simmons, 62). Substitutes not used: G Wade, J Brangman. Booked: Douglas.

St David’s (4-4-2): M Crockwell — D McCallan (sub: K Burton, 85), A Paynter, L Bennett, N Anderson — F Frankson, J Daniels, K Hurdle, M Robinson (sub: D DeSilva, 74) — J Pace, D Albouy. Substitutes not used: J Pitcher, K Butterfield, M Hodsoll, G O’Brien, D Fishenden, K Wilson, R Bell. Booked: Hurdle.

Referee: T Adams.