St David’s Warriors 2 Young Gunz Sound FC 3

Dion Stovell came off the bench to score a last-gasp winner as Corona League side Young Gunz FC came from behind twice to stun First Division opponents St David’s Warriors in a five-goal thriller in the FA Cup preliminary round on Sunday.

With extra-time looming, the 41-year-old midfielder took possession of fellow substitute Antwan Russell’s pass just inside the area and planted his shot into the right bottom corner just moments before the final whistle to send his team through to the next round of the prestigious competition.

Stovell was happy to help to help the underdogs through to the next round with his late goal.

“I put myself in a good position and to be honest it’s just muscle memory,” Stovell said.

“I just did what I used to do at a young age but can’t do for too long nowadays. I am having fun because I don’t take football serious nowadays, and playing with experienced guys like Antwan Russell, Domah Williams, Jesse Seymour and Rico Wells just makes it easier.

“It’s good for the Young Gunz Sound and hopefully we avoid the big teams in the next round because I don’t know how our legs will hold up. But at the end of the day it’s a good push for these guys to knock out a First Division club.”

Young Gunz dominated possession and created ample chances to establish a healthy lead in the first half, with livewire winger Williams squandering several good looks at goal and striker Lynn Emery having a goal disallowed.

That came back to haunt Young Gunz when St David’s took the lead against the run of play with a perfectly executed counter-attack. They broke forward with Tre McCallan running onto fellow midfielder Tyrone Burgess’s through ball, rounding advancing goalkeeper Amanat Takhar and slotting the ball into the empty net.

Young Gunz quickly regrouped with St David’s goalkeeper Kaylin Darrell positioning himself well to save Williams’s ambitious strike from outside the box.

They kept their foot on the gas and were finally rewarded when playmaker Drewonde Bascome equalised from a free kick. Williams was fouled just outside the area and St George’s Colts coach Bascome brilliantly bent the ensuing free-kick around the wall and into the far corner.

Williams then placed two shots wide of the target to leave the teams deadlocked at the break.

Young Gunz also made a promising start to the second half with midfielder Rico Wells, brother of Luton Town striker and Bermuda captain Nahki Wells, testing Darrell.

They continued to dominate possession and create good looks at goal but were forced to chase the game again after St David’s regained the lead from the penalty spot.

St David’s striker Kontai Burton went down under a challenge from Young Gunz captain, central defender Kyle McGhee, and Burgess confidently stepped up to convert from 12 yards to make it 2-1.

Young Gunz pressed on and had the ball in the back of the net again only for Emery to have another goal disallowed after Williams was penalised for a foul on goalkeeper Darrell.

The game opened up coming down the final stretch with non-stop end-to-end action before Young Gunz scored two unanswered goals to seal victory.

Wells equalised when he latched onto a headed clearance, sidestepped a defender and squeezed a low shot from outside of the area into the left bottom corner.

Stovell then popped up with the stoppage-time winner with a brilliant finish of his own to complete the upset, much to the delight of coach David Furtado, who burst into joy after the final whistle.

“I am over the moon right now and it feels absolutely amazing,” he said.

“We put in the hard work and it showed it with the substitutes making the difference at the end of the day.”

St David’s coach Aaron Lugo tipped his hat to the victors.

“The opposition definitely was a good outfit,” he said. “Congratulations and wish them the best going forward.”

SCORERS

St David’s: McCallan 27, Burgess 55 pen

Young Gunz: Bascome 36, Wells 65, Stovell 90+3

TEAMS

St David's (4-4-2): K Darrell 7 — J Jervis 6, C Richardson 6, Z Scott 6, K Swan 6 (sub: B Furqan, 46min 6) — C King 6 (sub: A Paynter, 68 6), T Burgess 7 (sub: C Lindo, 68 6), T McCallan 7 (sub: K Butterfield, 74 6), L Bennett 6 — K Wilson 6, K Burton 7 (sub: K Wilson, 88). Substitutes not used: J Wales, N Russell. Booked: Burton. Sent off: K Fox (assistant coach)

Young Gunz Sound FC (4-3-3): A Takhar 7 — C White 7 (sub: N Meireles, 65 7), T Burgess 7, K McGhee 6 (sub: D Stovell, 66 7), J Mederios 7 — S Darrell 8, D Bascome 8, R Wells 7 (sub: L Cacace, 69 6) — D Williams 6, C Robinson 6 (sub: J Seymour, 56 5), L Emery 7 (sub: A Russell, 65 7). Substitutes not used: J Shrubb, M DeCouto.

Referee: M Wyer.