Devonshire Cougars 4

Dandy Town 1

Cougars staged a dramatic late comeback in a thrilling game against Dandy Town at Devonshire Rec last night to book their place in the final of the Martonmere Cup for the second year running.

The hosts came from behind with four goals in the second half to set up a repeat of last year's final against PHC Zebras, who beat Somerset Trojans 1-0 in the earlier game of the double header.

But Dandy Town can consider themselves unlucky, having enjoyed the lion's share of play until the game turned on its head with Cougars' first goal midway through the second period.

Town took the lead on the stroke of half-time when the home side's defence failed to clear Sein Darrell's corner and the ball fell to Keimon Simmons to head home from close range.

They missed a gilt-edged chance to double their advantage just after the break after Antwan Russell missed an open goal and that proved to be the decisive moment as Cougars raced up the other end and Ajani Gibbons thundered the ball into the back of the net.

With the game in the balance it was the hosts who took the initiative and had fine individual strikes from Domico Coddington and substitute Kori Goddard in the 76th and 89th minute to thank for a 3-1 lead.

Then in stoppage time Gibbons popped up with his second and Cougars' fourth, but he was promptly red carded for taking his shirt off to celebrate the goal for the second time.

Devonshire Cougars:

R.Brangman, J.Deshields, K.Franks, D.Cox, I.Mallory, A.Gibbons, R.Robinson, T.Steele (R.Beach 60mins), D.Coddington J.Simmons 85), K.Steede, S.Minors (K.Goddard 75).

Dandy Town:

M.Crockwell, E.Signor, D.Signor (S.Tuzo 78), D.Zuill, K.Simmons, S.Darrell, M.Parson, L.Dill, H.Wolfe (O.Steede 71), A.Russell, C.Anderson.

Yellow Card: A.Gibbons (Cougars) (x2).

Red Cards: A.Gibbons.

Men of the Match: Ajani Gibbons (Cougars); Lashun Dill (Dandy Town).

Referee: G O'Brien Snr.

PHC Zebras 1

Somserset Trojans 0

A late penalty from Omar Shakir ensured it was PHC Zebras and not Somerset Trojans who will be contesting the cup final against red-hot favourites Devonshire Cougars.

The penalty, given five minutes from time after substitute Chioke Mederios brought down Jonathan Ball in the area and coolly dispatched by Shakir, was the only real chance of the game.

Somerset started the brighter and Danson Swan went close with a half-volley from just outside the box early on, before the game started to swing in PHC's favour, with Rayner Lightbourne seeing his shot smothered by keeper Timmy Figureido and then penalty claims were waved away by the referee after Chris Furbert was stopped in his tracks going into the area.

There were a couple of comedy moments as both keepers struggled to keep hold of the ball, first as Figureido let a simple back pass squirm underneath his foot and he had to race back to prevent the embarrassment of seeing it cross the line.

Then Zebras' number one Jay Smith dropped an innocuous looking cross under pressure from the Trojans' attack, but recovered well to retrieve the situation by diving on the loose ball.

Cecoy Robinson was next to try his luck, going narrowly wide after the restart, and then hitting an effort into Figureido's arms.

Ball was guilty of missing a fine chance to seal victory as the game drew to a close, managing to miss from point-blank range, but soon made amends, winning the all-important penalty.

PHC Zebras: J.Smith, O.Shakir, C.Downing, K.Richards, I.Barry, J.Sealey, C.Furbert, G.Bean, J.Franklin, C.Robinson (J.Ball 80mins), R.Lightbourne (S.Swan 64).

Somerset Trojans: T.Figureido, M.Butterfield, J.Tucker (R.Bascome 88), K.Simmons, D.Minors, J.Scott, A.Lambert, D.Benjamin, R.Wilson, D.Swan (C.Robinson 63), J.Butterfield (C.Mederios 75).

Yellow Card: J.Tucker (Trojans).

Men of the match: Omar Shakir (Zebras); K.Simmons (Trojans).

Referee: J.Billamarin.