Dandy Town 1

Devonshire Cougars 0

Dandy Town threw visiting Cougars to the wolves at St. John's Field yesterday as a Heys Wolfe first-half strike bundled the Premier Division champions from the FA Cup at the first hurdle.

Former Cougar Wolfe settled this cup tie when he pounced on a loose rebound in the box and poked Hornets into the next round as the visitors paid the price for squandering a plethora of golden opportunties with the imposing Mark Steede — starting in the absence of key cogs Domico Coddington and Raymond Beach — among the main culprits.

Cougars also had a late Kwame Steede headed goal ruled offside while the sending off of sub Lamont Brangman deep into stoppage time rubbed salt in the wound of a team still reeling from the effects of a recent Martonmere Cup final loss to PHC Zebras. Brangman received his marching orders after confronting a linesman in heated protest of Steede's disallowed goal that denied the Big Cats a lifeline with the last throw of the dice.

Cougars came close to breaking the ice in the first-half when midfielder Ajani Gibbons' long range effort hit the woodwork and then Mark Steede inexplicably sliced wide after being sent in the clear by sibling Kwame Steede who again proved to be a thorn in the side for the opposition.

Steede again dictated the tempo in the middle of the park and covered every blade of grass but found little or no support from the rest of his team-mates, who played in spurts. Meanwhile Hornets, who could have long had this affair sewn up had it not been for prolifacy in front of goal, clung desperately to their slim lead until the final whistle brought relief.