Exactly a week after being horrified by the national team?s dismal performance in Trinidad on national television, local football fans were once again tortured by another poor display ? only this time in their own back yard at BAA Field last night.

In a match that saw local standards dip to an all-time low, both teams played as though they had just been introduced to the game.

And any fan demanding a refund would have been well within their right, such was the atrocity that unfolded in a match resembling anything but a Friendship Trophy semi-final.

Guilty themselves of playing some of the worst football seen in recent memory, Cougars somehow found a way to win and book their passage to a third straight cup final this season ? though only barely.

After Paget skipper Kenneth Outerbridge was sent off for a late tackle on Keimo Bean, Cougars were able to cash in on their numerical advantage and floor their opponents at the death.

On as a half-time replacement for the ineffective Kori Goddard, Baker repaid his coach for the favour by netting what ultimately proved to be the winner just as it began to appear that extra time would be needed to separate these two clubs.

During a quick counterattack down the middle, Baker unleashed a low drive that rolled past the outstretched arms of Quincy Hunt and nestled into the bottom corner of goal.

And before the dust had settled Bean received reward for another workmanlike performance when he scored in identical fashion to Baker from the left side of the pitch.

The goals clearly took the wind out of the sails of a Paget side that failed miserably to pounce on a disorganised Cougars outfit, and spared those gathered at the ground of being held hostage for at least another 30 minutes.:Q.Hunt, K.Outerbridge (capt), M.Belboda, A.Bean (T.Brown, 85 mins), A.Smith, N.Simons, T.Wilkinson, Y.Pitt, M.Simons (A.Anderson, 51 mins), K.Durrant, D.Blyden (D.Bailey, 79 mins). : R.Brangman, J.Butterfield, O.Butterfield (A.Gibbons, 60 mins), D.Cox, J.DeShield, D.Eve (K.Tucker, 60 mins), K.Bean, K.Goddard (R.Baker, 45 mins), K.Steede (capt), I.Mallory, R.Beach.: D.Blyden (Paget); O.Butterfield (Cougars): K.Outerbridge (Paget): M.Belboda (Paget); K.Bean (Cougars): Jenny Villamarin

Last night?s opening First Division Shield semi-final ended in controversy with one team threatening to appeal against the final decision.

After 90 minutes of football failed to separate the two rivals, referee Anthony Francis called for penalty kicks to be taken when competition rules clearly state that extra-time should have come into effect.

Rangers eventually won the penalty shootout, but Eagles? officials indicated after the match that they do intend to lodge an appeal in the hopes of having the match replayed.

Earlier, Jermaine Salaam and Shannon Morrisey (penalty) gave Eagles a 2-0 lead only for Herbie Dillas and Jahnai Bean (penalty) to draw the two teams level and send the match to penalties.