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Clarke returns as Cougars eye FA Cup upset

cup holders Devonshire Colts meet First Division Devonshire Cougars in a second round replay at the Rec. (9.00 p.m.).

Already two Commercial teams and one First Division side are through to the last eight, and Cougars will be aiming to make certain that only four Premier teams remain after tonight's clash.

Cougars could have a pyschological advantage as not only will they be on home territory but top striker Philip Clarke will be back in the team after serving a one match suspension.

"Our chances are realistic,'' said Clarke yesterday. "If we go out there and play the way we played on Sunday and put our chances away I don't think we'll have a problem at all.

"The guys' spirits are up and we're looking forward to it.'' Colts, on the other hand, will be weakened in both defence and attack following red cards on Sunday which have ruled out three key players, defender MacKonnen Hollis and frontmen Aljame Zuill and Marvin Belboda.

Colts coach David Furbert blasted referee Stuart Crockwell over his handling of the match, but Clarke saw it differently. "With the sending offs, I feel that the referee did his job within the context of FIFA rulings,'' said Clarke, himself the recipient of a red card the week before. "I can't see why they would be complaining about the referee. The one with McKonnen Hollis could have gone either way but because he had a yellow already and the referee saw it as a bookable (offence) he had to do his job under those rulings.'' Anxiously awaiting tomorrow's draw are MR Onions and Lobster Pot of the Commercial League and First Division Social Club who produced the shock of the round by beating PHC 1-0. Those teams will be keen to avoid the likes of North Village, Vasco, Southampton Rangers and Dandy Town.

Three players scored hat-tricks in two Commercial League make-up matches at Somerset on Saturday. Allan Fray netted three as North Village Rams romped to a 7-1 win over PHC Raiders in an A Division game. Also getting among the goals for the Rams were Ross Lambe, Kacy Simons, Larry Darrell and Kevin Grant while Youssef Boucetta replied for the Raiders.

Joe Carolo scored all four for Tuff Dogs, though they still failed to win their B Division match against Somerset Extros. The contest finished 4-4 with Mike Corday scoring three times for the home team and Everett Wellman the other.

Meanwhile, PHC and Dandy Town advanced to the final of the Reserve Division's Knockout Cup following wins at Bernard Park on Saturday. Dandy Town hammered North Village 6-2 as Cecil Wilkinson and Jamel Lovell both scored twice along with substitute Marlon Lindsey. Lamont Simmons and substitute Kentoine Jennings replied for Village.

Kenny Mills scored a hat-trick as PHC beat Southampton Rangers 4-2 in the other match. Mark Smith got the other PHC goal while Nashon Smith scored twice for Rangers.

In women's action, PHC beat Prospect 5-3 with Tschana Wade and Waynesha Bean both netting twice for PHC and Juliana de Estelle Roe the other. Terrylynn Paynter, Shannelle Smith and Tirena Rollins replied for Prospect.