Boulevard 2 Som. Eagles 2 (aet)

(Eagles win 5-4 on pens)

Somerset Eagles snatched victory in dramatic fashion in the Friendship Trophy last night, breaking Boulevard's hearts and sealing a place in the final in the process.

The win at Devonshire Rec, 5-4 on penalties after they twice clawed themselves back into the tie, was hardly deserved, Eagles having failed to overcome a gallant Blazers side who played for 93 minutes with just ten men after Leonard Hypolite was red carded in the first half.

Hypolite was shown two yellow cards within seconds of each other by referee Richard Knight - the first for a foul and the second for what he said in response to the official.

At the time Blazers were a goal to the good thanks to Raymond Burgess' 16th minute header from a pinpoint Melchisedic Gibbons cross. But it would have been a brave man who would have banked on them winning with the added burden the sending off gave them.

However, Eagles were lacklustre at best and failed to make the most of the extra man, allowing their opponents to appear as if at full strength.

That said, they could have succumbed towards the break if Duval Binns' shot in a rare attack had not been saved one handed by Shejuan Swan.

Five minutes after the restart Swan's opposite number, Winslow Williams, did well to block Gibbons' deflected strike, which he must have seen late through a mess of legs.

As the half wore on Eagles began to dominate possession, but were still unable to seriously threaten the goal, substitute Jabrell Tucker coming closest when, after beating three players, his effort was blocked.

Marc Bean's men did find themselves back in the game in the 79th minute, though it owed much to a combination of events that afflicted their rivals.

First Conneko Trott went down injured and then teammate Crockwell was laid out at the opposite end of the field.

The latter, who had to be stretchered off, was replaced by Vernon Phillips, but Blazers opted not to bring off Trott, preferring to play with nine men while he received treatment.

It proved to be a costly error, for in their next attack, Eagles levelled when Nakia Smith turned smartly and fired low past Swan.

Surely that strike would be enough to knock the wind out of the Blazers sails? Think again.

Not only did they hang on for extra time, but within three minutes of the restart they went ahead again, this time Gibbons curling a free-kick over the wall from 20 yards with `keeper Williams expecting a cross.

Instead of adopting a `what we have, we hold' attitude though, Blazers looked to add to their score, and they were made to pay in the 108th minute when Lamaul Crofton, unusually quiet until this point, broke through their ranks and fired a raking shot past Swan.

With no further scoring the match went to penalties.

Trott and Michael Parson both scored for Blazers, while Musceo Hunt and Kion Simons netted for Eagles.

Then came Gibbons' turn. Taking an age to prepare himself, you sensed he did not have the courage of his convictions and so it was no surprise when he scuffed his spot-kick wide.

When Marcell Dill fired his penalty past Swan it was 3-2 and advantage Eagles.

Robert Wilson netted for Blazers but so did Smith for Eagles.

The pressure was now on Jahmah Samuels. Miss and it was all over; score and the drama continued.

He scored, but Eagles now just needed to bag their fifth penalty to seal the win.

Marco Butterfield stepped up to take it, but there then followed discussions between he and `keeper Williams, the latter adamant it was his honour.

After a few moments Butterfield turned on his heels, allowing Williams the opportunity to get one over his rival.

A long run up added to the tension, but the connection was sweet and so, in the end, was the taste of Eagles' triumph. The taste of defeat, however, will stick in Blazers' throats for some time to come.