X-Roads 1 Dandy Town2

X-Roads gave Dandy Town a scare at Garrison Field, and with better finishing could have knocked the Premier Division champions out of the FA Cup yesterday.

The home team, who were recently promoted to the top flight for the first time, gave a good account of themselves to leave Town frustrated after they failed to dominate their First Division opponents.

“They played well, played as a team, they’re going to do something next year,” predicted Kwame Steede, the Town coach, who was impressed with the effort X-Roads put in.

X-Roads did not have the best build-up to the match, with coach Farid El Karfa injuring his back and being hospitalised while first-choice goalkeeper Dashun Cooper had a bike accident yesterday morning and could not play because of a leg injury. Midfielder Ahria Simons, a member of the recent Bermuda Under-20 squad, was also out injured.

X-Roads, who knocked out Premier Division Devonshire Colts in the last round, handled the setback well and almost scored just 20 seconds into the game when Paul Simons put a shot just wide of the far post from a good position inside the box. Town did not heed the early warnings as X-Roads had a couple of good scoring opportunities before they shocked the visiting side by taking the lead midway through the half when slack defending allowed Tyquan Perinchief to turn inside the box before drilling a low shot past young goalkeeper Jaiden Manders and just inside the far post.

Town, frustrated and getting testy with each other, almost went further behind when Simons pounced on a mistake by Seion Darrell outside the box before poking his effort wide of the far post. At the other end Tomiko Goater was off target from inside the box after dragging his effort off target.

There were some decisive moments late in the half as X-Roads continued to match their opponents. Town pulled level from the penalty spot in the 34th minute when defender Jamin Furbert floored the overlapping K’wonde Lathan and captain Angelo Simmons, scorer of a hat-trick against North Village in midweek, stepped up to send goalkeeper Karl Brown the wrong way with his spot-kick.

Town made a substitution moments later, taking off the frustrated Temiko Wilson for Eusebio Blankendal. X-Roads thought they had regained the lead when Simons won a challenge against Dominique Williams before driving his shot past teenager Manders into the bottom corner. However, the effort ruled out for a foul by Simons on Williams.

Moments later the game changed when Town scored a second goal through Damon Ming to take the lead for the first time. The cross from the right reached Ming at the far post before he controlled the ball and placed his shot perfectly into the far bottom corner.

“We weren’t respecting them as opponents, but when we started to show them respect we got two quick goals,” Steede said.

X-Roads had most of the possession in the second half as they fought hard to find an equaliser. They thought they had a penalty in the 68th minute when youngster Aaron Spencer surged forward before going down inside the box from a challenge by Kamali Davis. X-Roads were doing all of the attacking at this point with Town occasionally looking dangerous on the break.

The introduction of Daniel Baker for the injured Perinchief boosted the X-Roads attack as Town continued to hold onto their slim lead, even changing their formation in the dying minutes as the match remained close.

Both teams had chances to score in injury time, first Goater lifting a shot well over the crossbar from inside the box after Simmons created the opening on the right side of the box.

X-Roads went upfield and nearly made them pay but Baker dragged his shot wide of the post after getting space to shoot inside the box.