Hamilton Parish 1 Flanagan’s Onions 0

Hamilton Parish got a late winner from striker Lorenzo Simmons against Flanagan’s Onions at Wellington Oval to advance to the first round of the FA Cup yesterday.

The game looked headed for extra time before Simmons popped up with the game’s only goal after a corner. Calls rang out from the Onions players for handball against Simmons but he continued on to plant his shot into the bottom corner.

Parish won the corner when substitute Clevon Hill’s free kick was turned around the post by goalkeeper Lejaun Matthews.

Corey Hill, the Parish coach, was relieved to get the late winner. He changed his team, resting several starters because of knocks, including Chris Caisey, Shayne Hollis, Andrew Samuels and Shakeem Albuoy.

Parish had just enough to get past Onions, who are now winless in their last four matches, with two draws and two losses.

“Today’s performance was a good team effort,” Hill said. “The guys responded well to the information, we kept our shape and knew at some point we would get a chance and had to put it away.

“We brought in a few of our Masters players and they gave us a nice effort. Six guys are nursing little injuries, so I thought we should rest them today because we have a very important game next week [Southampton Rangers]. I just want to thank the guys who came in for the work they put in.”

Little separated the teams although Parish created more chances, with Simmons blasting over the bar from 25 yards late in the first half. A minute later a cross from the right saw Devon Rogers just fail to connect in front of goal.

Jeremiah Steede went closest to scoring early in the second half when a through ball from substitute Jamie Smith set him up, but he miskicked inside the box. Parish also introduced the experienced Clevon Hill early in the second half as Onions were denied at the other end by two saves from goalkeeper Nigel Burgess, including one from Onions captain Treshun Smith which was turned around the near post. Smith had early put another chance just wide.

Parish will join five other First Division teams in the first-round draw, which scheduled for today.

TEAMS

Hamilton Parish (4-4-2): N Burgess — G Saltus, R Richardson, A Smith, M Rudo — J Hunter-Tucker (sub: J Fox, 70min), K Richardson (sub: J Smith 50), D Rogers, P Medeiros — L Simmons, J Steede (sub: C Hill, 58min). Substitutes not used: S Burgess, B Correia.

Flanagan’s Onions (4-4-2): L Matthews — C Alexander, C Berkeley, D Simmons, J Higson — N Anglin, P Makakobe, A Rocker (sub: C Burns, 86), J Morgan (sub: P Smith 60) — T Smith, S Swan. Substitute not used: M Ward. Booked: Morgan, Smith.

Referee: T Adams.