Distasteful, rubbish and uninspiring. These were a few of the more gently or least offensive expressions used to described this anti-climactic FA Cup clash at the Den yesterday.

In a second round cup tie that proved to be a far cry from Devonshire derbies of yesteryear, Domico Coddington rose unchallenged at the back post ten minutes from time to head home sub Clevon Hill?s high swerving cross to advance Cougars to the quarter-finals of the prestigious competition.

With top poacher Raymond (Packy) Beach back in the Cougars line up and Colts showing up at the ground without the hard tackling MacKonnen Hollis, the home side had every reason to lick their fangs and sharpen their claws in anticipation of easy pickings.

But it simply was not to be as a more youthful Colts were able to match their opponents for the most part and dodge several bullets from the lethal chamber of the prolific Beach.

Colts also had ?keeper Khabir Dill ? who produced some excellent saves between the uprights ? to thank for keeping them in contention until Coddington delivered the crushing blow just when it appeared as though additional time would be required to separate the two clubs.

Beach was unfortunate not to have opened his season account after having a three-year ban lifted late last week during the early goings when referee Granville Bennett awarded the Big Cats a penalty after ?keeper Dill shoved an attacker ? challenging for a corner ? in the box.

The returning striker made good his effort but ref Bennett disallowed the goal and instead awarded Colts an indirect free kick for encroachment after Kwame Steede trespassed inside the box as Beach shaped up to shoot.

Yet this did little to deter Cougars who enjoyed the lion?s share of possession during the opening half but just couldn?t find the missing piece to the puzzle in the attacking third of the pitch.

On the other hand Colts, with stalwart Shannon Burgess picking up the slack in Hollis? absence, did just enough at the rear to keep Cougars at bay but fared even worse up front with chances coming about as frequently as Haley?s Comet.

Often Cougars impressed with their ability to spread the ball along the floor. However, whenever they threatened deep in Colts? terrain the usually dependable Aljame Zuill and Coddington let their team-mates down.

Cougars? veteran midfielder Neil (Diamond) Robinson ? one of the most senior players on the pitch ? must have caressed every blade of grass as he battled hard in the middle of the park to keep the passing lanes open and provide his forwards service in attack.

But not even Robinson?s resourcefulness could crack the ice as the teams remained scoreless at the half, the disturbed look on Cougars coach Andrew Bascome?s face best summing up the home team?s frustration.

After inserting the likes of Hill and Heys Wolfe into the game midway through the second half, Cougars cup pedigree gradually began to rise to the top. Almost instinctively Wolfe connected with Beach and fed the striker from all angles while creating acres of space for himself down the right wing.

With the wind at their backs, and Colts pinned in their own half, a Cougars goal seemed imminent, especially when Coddington, Wolfe and Zuill combined during a counterattack.

After being fed by Wolfe down the middle, Coddington relied upon his pace to distance himself from his marker before supplying Zuill inside the area with a cross the veteran striker should have easily nodded home. Instead, Zuill misjudged the flight of the ball and the chance went begging.

Having caught his second breeze, Coddington prompted ?keeper Dill to make the save of the day when he palmed the forward?s rasping volley over the bar. Dill also risked his own health by courageously diving to his right in heavy traffic to thwart a dangerous Coddington cross at the back post and twice deny Beach from point-blank range with his feet.

But having absorbed constant Cougars pressure, something just had to give. And it would be Colts? mental concentration that would allow Coddington to pounce at the back post and finally dispel any hopes the visiting team might have had for an upset win on the Big Cats home turf ? but only after Ryan Purnell missed a golden opportunity to send the match into extra time at the opposite end. R.Brangman, O.Butterfield, J.DeShields, J.Butterfield, I.Mallory, N.Robinson, K.Simpson (H.Wolfe, 60 mins), D.Coddington, K.Steede (capt), A.Zuill (C.Hill, 72 mins), R.Beach. K.Dill, S.Burgess, J.Butterfield (capt), A.Lowe, R.Purnell, M.Cabral (S.Nusum, 70 mins), E.Wilkin, J.Darrell (D.Simmons, 88 mins), S.Dietz, Q.Jones (R.Evans, 90 mins). N.Robinson (Cougars); K.Dill (Colts): Granville Bennett.