Grandad strikes Allstars' winner
Optimistic cries of "bring on Dandy Town'' filled the air last night as St.
George's Allstars of the Commercial League upset Second Division Ireland Rangers in their FA Cup second round replay at St. John's field, thanks to a goal after 82 minutes by veteran striker Cal Rayner.
The teams had battled to a 1-1 draw at Somerset CC on Sunday.
Rayner, a 48-year-old grandfather and a prominent forward for St. George's in the First Division during the 70s, knocked the stuffing out of the westenders when he stroked home what proved to be the winner from a free kick just outside the penalty box.
Ireland Rangers' right full-back Frank Smith handled the ball when he was being pressured during a counter attack by the Allstars and Rayner coolly stepped up and placed the ball home off the near post, leaving a stranded Ricardo Tucker on the ground.
While all of the accolades were directed at Rayner, man of the match honours went to the Allstars centreback Jan Cieters who rarely put a foot wrong in their defence.
And after 75 minutes he was unlucky when his fierce drive from 25 yards sailed a foot over the goal.
It was a tough night for the Rangers who had their share of the play with former Trojan stars Jay Simons and Troy Berkeley leading their attack -- but the Allstars defence refused to yield.
M.R. Onions 0, Paget 0 (after extra time Goalkeeper Wayne Smith saved Second Division Paget from an embarrassing defeat when he pushed a good shot from Ian Elsworth wide a minute from the end of extra time of this F.A. Cup replay at St. John's field last night.
The teams had battled to a 2-2 extra time draw at White Hill on Sunday.
Commercial League side Onions matched their opponents throughout and were guilty of one of the biggest misses of the game -- an opportunity blown by Gary Wilson after 65 minutes when he astonishingly fired over from just eight yards.
The winner of this game take on Devonshire Cougars in the third round on December 6 at Devonshire Rec.