PHC Zebras 2

Dandy Town 0

Second half goals by Johnny Ball and Raynel Lightbourne breathed life into PHC Zebras' Premier's Dudley Eve Cup campaign at the National Sports Centre (NSC) last night.

Ball popped up in the box to fire home an Omar Shakir rebound before Lightbourne put the result well beyond doubt in the closing minutes as Zebras avenged a December 16 league loss to Hornets to advance to tomorrow's loser's semi-final against Devonshire Cougars at the NSC.

Town dictated most of the tempo in the opening stanza but it was Zebras - who had a fifth-minute goal disallowed - that finished the half on a stronger note with Lightbourne, Kevin Lambe and Jahnai Raynor all testing Hornet's 'keeper Mikkail Crockwell, who made some outstanding saves between the uprights to keep his team in contention.

"We had a slow start and looked a bit sluggish. But we made a few tactical changes that helped to bring us back into the game and overall I'm happy with the win," said Zebras coach Kyle Lightbourne.

Crockwell raced off his line in the 40th minute to block Lightbourne's point-blank blast before a well-positioned Lambe lifted his shot over the bar from ten -yards with only the 'keeper to contend with.

With Zebras now clearly in the ascendancy, poor finishing again denied Lightbourne who headed Ibou Barry's slanted cross wide while Raynor curled a shot from distance just over and then had an advancing Crockwell collect the ball off his boot as he shaped up to shoot.

Town, though, were never outclassed and with better finishing could've easily grasped the early initiative and forced Zebras on the back foot.

Teenage prodigy Nahki Wells again played with a maturity beyond his tender years while winger Lashun Dill sent over several probing crosses that exposed Zebras at the back - especially whenever the overlapping Ball was caught out of position.

But their finishing touch left much to be desired.

Having absorbed all that Hornets could throw their way, Zebras caught their second breeze just before break. And when play resumed ominous signs went unheeded by Hornets who gradually lost their legs as their opponent's physical superiority began to shine through.

"I thought in the second-half we really controlled the game," Lightbourne added. "At the half I told my players that we weren't really playing but if we stepped it up then we could go on and win the game."

Picking up where they had left off, Zebras stretched Hornets out of shape with Ball delivering the proverbial kiss of death in the 50th minute. PHC skipper Shakir, returning from injury, gained possession deep in Town territory and let rip with a vicious drive that Crockwell spilled into the path of Ball who emphatically whipped the loose ball home in heavy traffic.

Both teams created opportunities as the game wore on before Lightbourne netted Zebras' second nine -minutes from the end to crush all Hornets' hopes of staging a late fightback.

PHC coach Lightbourne is now expected to make subtle changes to his lineup for tomorrow's semi final meeting with Cougars, with former skipper Blenn Bean set to rejoin his team-mates.

"It's going to be tough on our guys because this route (to semi final) is definitely the hardest," he said.

"But we have a few fresh legs that didn't play tonight who will be back like Blenn (Bean) who is someone who brings a lot of energy to the team."

Meanwhile, in last night's First Division Dudley Eve encounter St.David's Warriors defeated Somerset Eagles 3-1 on penalties after the two rivals remained deadlocked at 1-1 at the end of regulation.

Shannon Morrisey put Eagles ahead from the penalty spot in the fifth-minute only for Warriors to draw even through a 35th minute strike from Angelo Cannonier.

St.David's will now take on Southampton Rangers in tomorrow's loser's semi final at the NSC.

PHC: R.Glasford, I.Barry, K.Richards, O.Shakir (capt), C.Dowling, J.Ball, A.Jesse, J.Raynor (D.Russell, 61 mins), R.Lightbourne (T.Russell, 85 mins), K.Lambe (Q.Hunt, 76 mins), K.Lewis.

Dandy Town: M.Crockwell, J.Simons, A.Lowe, E.Signor, K.Lathan, O.Steede (D.Leverock, 70 mins), M.Parsons (S.Furbert, 77 mins), H.Wolfe (J.Swan, 45 mins), N.Wells, L.Dill (capt), A.Russell.

Yellow cards: J.Ball (Zebras); D.Leverock (Town)

Men of the match: J.Ball (PHC); M.Crockwell (Town)

Referee: Anthony Francis.