St.David's sent crashing by cup underdogs
A goal by substitute Glen Dunn after 66 minutes gave Commercial League side MR Onions a shock victory over First Division St. David's in this FA Cup first round clash at White Hill Field.
The Islanders were forced to play catch-up most of the afternoon after falling behind to a first half goal by midfielder Stephen Ludeate on 37 minutes. They eventually drew even through Angelo Cannonier after 54 minutes.
But heavily favoured St. David's were never allowed to stamp their authority on the game and were often frustrated by a well organised Onions defence, marshalled by centre backs George Rodrigues and Chris Fleming.
The game lacked excitement in the first half with both attacks breaking down time and again.
Onions, however, threatened with three corners and it was via this route that their goal came from the third, Ludeate firmly heading home the only goal of the half.
St. David's managed to hold territorial advantage but continually failed to threaten once in the penalty area.
Things began to look brighter for them after 54 minutes when right full back Oliver Pitcher provided Cannonier with the pass that led to their equaliser.
But with Onions' defence refusing to yield and Ludeate and Andy Robinson dominating in midfield, the restaurant side made things difficult for their opponents for the rest of the game.
They took a 2-1 lead after 66 minutes when Dunn chipped home a shot from a sharp angle on the left, the ball catching goalkeeper Sydney Minors off his line.
St. David's, during a rare foray in their opponents' penalty box, saw Chris Foggo miss a sitter after 84 minutes when he placed his shot wide from just 10 yards out.
That proved to be their last chance of forcing extra-time.
Prospect 4 Valley 0 Prospect United's Clifford Roberts netted two goals in two minutes to kill off Valley International and secure a comfortable passage into the second round of the FA Cup.
The Bermuda World Cup squad defender and former Vasco stalwart, now playing in a central midfield role for the Police team, first struck with a cool side-footed finish in 70th minute after a one-two with substitute Wayne Campbell had ripped apart the Valley defence.
That put the First Division team 3-0 ahead and Roberts completed his brace by latching onto a half-clearance from a long throw-in and whacking a half-volleyed shot on the turn into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
Roberts could even have completed a rare hat-trick just four minutes later, when his diving header at the far post flew high over the gaping goal.
Valley, mid-table in the Commercial League B Division, were thoroughly outplayed, but defended bravely, with centre back Paul Botelho their man of the match.
The underdogs found themselves a goal down after just two minutes when Philip Bailey found space beyond the far post and hammered his close-range finish high into the net.
Prospect's second goal came from Michael Thomas in the 33rd minute, a curling cross-cum-shot from the left-hand corner of the penalty area which deceived Valley goalkeeper Kevin McNeil.
The Police team should have had more but their shooting was often wayward, although Bailey was unlucky not to claim his second when his 18-yard curler hit the bar.
A Roger Hall header from an Earl Pringle cross in the first half and two late efforts by Kevin Isaac were the only times Valley troubled Prospect 'keeper Kuhn Evans.
