Devonshire Colts 1 X-Roads 0

Chemarl Henry scored the lone goal five minutes from time as Premier Division title challengers Devonshire Colts scraped past a determined X-Roads in the FA Cup quarter-final at Police Field on Sunday.

Henry controlled a great ball from defender Jorj Dublin and whipped it into the far corner past goalkeeper Kamran Harvey to send Colts into the last four of the competition.

Although pleased with the result, Colts head coach Ray Jones was far from pleased with his side’s showing.

“It was a poor performance,” Jones said. “But the most important thing in cup games is getting the job done.

“We lost our emotional balance, the game became erratic, and that allowed X-Roads back into the game.”

Jones gave credit to captain Dublin for holding the defence together and helping his team to a clear sheet.

“Jorj commanded the back line and used his voice more today,” Jones said. “He set the tone of not giving up.”

Colts controlled possession for the majority of the first half without really threatening the away side’s defence but they lacked tempo in their passing between both boxes, which was not helped by the muddy and sloppy surface.

It was X-Roads who had the first attacking moment inside ten minutes, when Tymon Daniels fed Aaron Spencer in the right channel. Spencer lifted a cross towards the back post, but Danavon Thompson could only head it back into the penalty area, which allowed Daniel Ball to clear to the halfway line.

The direct approach from Warriors was often dealt with well by the Colts back line, but despite ceding possession X-Roads created another couple of chances midway through the half.

Daniels clipped a free kick into the area that took two wicked deflections before Edivaldo Abranches prodded towards goal, with Dublin clearing off the line.

Then Jarye Bean clipped a lovely ball into an open Paul Simons, but the Warriors captain failed to hit the target with his low effort.

Colts fashioned their best chance of the first half just before the break. Sage Blair-Paynter was picked out by Ball on the back post after peeling off Abranches, but he headed wide.

The second half was largely a battle for territory with neither side really controlling the game. The home side could have found the breakthrough early but Sage Blair-Paynter struck his effort straight at Harvey after being found nicely by Henry.

Harvey had to make his lone significant save just after the hour, when Henry had a powerful shot from distance and the resulting corner was easily cleared by the Warriors defence.

Colts keeper Jaden Mills-Furbert was forced into a reflex save midway through the second half when Paul Simons had a shot towards the bottom corner from close range before Henry struck the crucial Colts goal with time ticking down.

SCORERS

Devonshire Colts: Henry 85

TEAMS

Devonshire Colts (4-2-3-1): J Mills-Furbert 7 — D Ball 6 (sub: K Burch, 79min), J Dublin 8, S Burgess 6, M Isaac 6 — J Samuels 6, Z Burgess 5 — C Henry 6, S Blair-Paynter 5 (sub: J Bean-Lindo, 60 6), E Darrell 5 (sub: J Paynter, 60 6) — S Mitchell 6. Substitutes not used: D Jackson, S Robinson, R Whitter, A Van Duyne. Booked: Henry, Bean-Lindo.

X-Roads (4-2-3-1): K Harvey 6 — T Dill 6, T Daniels 6, E Joao Abranches 7, J Bean 6 — K Douglas 6, C Binnie 6 (sub: A Darrell, 70) — K Richardson 5 (sub: K Brangman, 86), P Simons 6, A Spencer 5 — D Thompson 5. Substitutes not used: C Smith, R Simmons, S McKittrick. Booked: Bean, Douglas.

Referee: M Wyer