Somerset Trojans 3

Devonshire Cougars 3(after extra time)

A goal late in the second period of extra time by left full-back Jeremy DeShields enabled visiting Cougars to earn a replay in this FA Cup quarter-final clash at Somerset Cricket Club yesterday.

The teams will lock horns again in tomorrow night’s rematch scheduled for The Den, home of the Cougars — BFA general secretary David Sabir suggesting that the game will “most likely” be held there since Somerset’s lights are not in working order.

The sea-saw game of the day battle saw the home side open the scoring through Rodney Bascome after 16 minutes and Cougars, who the previous week demolished North Village Rams 3-0 to win the Premier Division title, found themselves in an awful bind when they trailed 2-0 after 47 minutes when Jelani Butterfield found the net.

But the newly crowned league champions fought back bravely and never allowed their opponents to completely dominate. After gaining momentum Cougars got their reward when skipper Kwame Steede netted their opening goal after 79 minutes.

Boosted by that goal the stage was set for their centre-back and former Trojan Jahmon Mallory, who was solid in defence all day for Cougars, to snatch the equaliser four minutes from the end to send the contest into extra time.

After five minutes of the added period, the home side were once again in front, this time Rodre (Piper) Wilson finding the mark.

But Cougars were able to dig deep and were justly rewarded for their great fighting spirit when DeShields got the deserved equaliser with precious few minutes remaining to earn them a replay.