Dandy Town 3 Devonshire Cougars 3

(after extra time)

Soccer fans who decided against visiting National Sports Centre yesterday might just have missed out on the most thrilling FA Cup Final in decades.

Spectacular goals, balls crashing into the woodwork, exhilarating non-stop end-to-end action, a superbly taken Heys Wolfe hat-trick and perhaps two of the most bizarre incidents in the history of the 49 year-old competition . . . this absorbing match between the Island's two top dogs had it all!

And while Cougars will be kicking themselves for squandering a 2-0 lead and then having their heart ripped out by a David Lawler screamer three minutes from the end of extra-time, Town demonstrated just why they are the league champions as twice they battled back in the face of adversity.

But it was Lawler's last-gasp rocket which sent the large gathering - who had already absorbed more action than they could bear - over the edge.

This match was certainly not for the faint hearted.

“What can I say about that last goal? That goal was fantastic!” exclaimed Town coach Devarr Boyles, surprisingly remaining calm after watching his charges slug it out with Cougars for 120 minutes.

“He was due for a goal and what a day to chip in. That goal obviously gave us another opportunity to play and win the final. Both teams worked hard and this is the type of final that football needed. Cougars brought it, we brought it and we look to do it again on Tuesday.”

While Boyles took it all in his stride, Cougars team officials declined to comment amid a deafening silence near the team's dressing room.

But after twice blowing a chance to land the coveted cup for the first time in their history and watching Wolfe's superb treble go in vain, one could only sympathise with a dogged Cougars side who threw all they could muster at the newly crowned league champions.

Both teams will now have to go back to the drawing board and rethink new game plans ahead of tomorrow's replay at the National Sports Centre (7.30 p.m.).

From the moment referee Stuart Crockwell blew the opening whistle, Cougars must have realised they were in for a dog fight as Hornets - with the wind at their backs - immediately took their opponents to task.

Wreaking havoc down Cougars' left-flank, the nimble Jared Peniston sped past his marker and crossed the ball into the middle but Town's diminutive midfielder Reggie Tucker failed to connect.

But there was simply no excuse for what transpired next. Beating Cougars' ‘keeper Lovintz Tota to a loose ball, veteran player Carlos Smith got the ball under control, rounded the ‘keeper but inexplicably missed a golden opportunity to give his side the lead from just three yards out.

By now Town had clearly gained the upper hand and it only seemed a matter of time before they would make the crucial breakthrough.

Khano Smith, standing on the tightest of angles, somehow managed to send in a firm shot that struck the underside of the bar and rolled out for a goal kick. Tota was then called into action to make a series of key saves to deny Khano Smith and Tucker from point-blank range before palming away a dangerous inswinging Carlos Smith diagonal cross. Khano Smith must have then figured the gods were conspiring against him when he again struck the bar during a quick Town raid on goal.

Content to put numbers behind the ball and rely on the quick counter attack, Cougars responded with a few close calls of their own with Cymande Davis somehow tipping a Kori Goddard drive onto the bar while dangerman Raymond Beach had a shot from close range blocked.

Still, given the clear chances presented to them, Town should have entered the break at least a goal up.

But this was not the case and their inability to find the back of the net left the door open for the lurking Cougars who would seize their moment to pounce and make the best of their chances in the 65th minute when Wolfe put the finishing touches on a good build-up involving Goddard and skipper Kwame Steede.

The wiry striker gained possession deep in Town's area and calmly steered the ball past the onrushing Antoine Lightbourne who replaced Davis at the half after the latter injured his hand attempting to thwart the onrushing Beach late in the opening period. Sensing their opponents were wounded, Cougars moved in for the kill. And they would double their lead in the most bizarre fashion two minutes later.

What should have been a routine back pass went all so wrong as Lightbourne picked the ball up instead of punting it back up field. To add insult to injury, instead of either holding onto the ball or kicking it away to allow ample time for his team-mates to set up a wall, Lightbourne allowed the quick-thinking Beach to gather the ball and dish off a short pass to Wolfe who graciously slotted it into an empty net before Town could react.

This, however, only set the stage for more drama.

With 13 minutes remaining in the match, Town grabbed a lifeline in the form of a Carlos Smith penalty after Tucker was felled in the box.

Shortly after Tucker and Lawler came close to grabbing the crucial equaliser with Cougars hanging on for dear life, Town demonstrated that they too could be clever when the moment arose. With five minutes to go, it was Tota's turn to make a crucial error.

The Carifta gold medallist turned from hero to villiain within the space of seven days as he too handled a back pass, giving Town just the boost they so desperately sought. Like Lightbourne had done so earlier, Tota allowed Town to quickly retrieve the ball with Carlos Smith slipping a short pass to Khano Smith who made no mistake from close range to make it 2-2 and send the game into extra-time.

Again, Town should have blown their opponents off the pitch during the opening period of additional time with Khano Smith guilty of squandering three opportunities.

But apparently lessons were not learned from earlier mistakes as Town were made to pay dearly when Wolfe completed his treble with a delicate chip from an angle which went in off the post to give Cougars what again appeared to be a first FA triumph.

However, it just wasn't to be as Lawler floored Cougars' cup hopes by running onto a Wolde Place pass and slamming the ball past the hapless Tota from 25 yards with perhaps one of the greatest goals ever scored in FA Cup history.

Dandy Town: C.Davis (A.Lightbourne, 45 mins), R.Swan, D.Lawler, M.Lowe, C.Anderson, L.Furbert, K.Mundy (W.Place, 80 mins), J.Peniston (K.Butterfield, 105 mins), K.Smith, R.Tucker, C.Smith.

Devonshire Cougars: L.Tota, D.Coddington, J.DeShields, S.Smith, G.Butterfeild, O.Butterfield, K.Goddard, K.Steede, H.Wolfe, R.Beach, M.Smith (R.Swan, 80 mins).

Booked: K.Smith; R.Tucker (Town); D.Coddington (Cougars).

Men of the match: D.Lawler/K.Smith (Town); H.Wolfe/L.Tota (Cougars).

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.

Women's FA Cup Final - See Page 20