Devonshire Cougars 2

Somerset Trojans 0

Dennis Brown, the Devonshire Cougars coach, hailed his side’s performance last night at Devonshire Recreation Club as they knocked Somerset Trojans out of the FA Cup.

Goals from Moses Steede and Mark Steede steered the cup-holders to victory as they put their name in the hat for the semi-final draw.

“It is a job well done,” Brown said. “It was much better than the last match in which we didn’t perform to what I would have liked them to.

“We were well disciplined, the concentration was there, so I couldn’t have asked anything more of them. If you add these things together, along with good finishing, then it is a recipe for success.”

Having played to a 1-1 draw in the Premier Division only seven days ago, the clubs made subtle adjustments to both their strategy and their line-ups.

The home side were ahead early on after Moses Steede, who missed the last match, scored directly from a corner, much to the dismay of Shaquille Bean, the Trojans goalkeeper who conceded directly from a corner for the second time in successive matches.

Mark Steede, who led the Cougars front line, tried to find Moses Steede in a yard of space moments later after turning his marker, but the pass was inches away from the midfielder.

Moses Steede would be in the thick of the action again shortly after, this time linking up with Jesse Seymour, the left back.

Seymour used his pace to round his marker on the byline before cutting back his pass, only for Moses Steede to scuff his shot, letting Trojans off the hook.

Mark Steede would not be so kind, planting his effort past Bean nine minutes before the break.

Cougars captain Chris Caisey Jr played a ball to the striker’s feet in the area and he duly swivelled with a defender on his back and launched a rocket of a shot into the roof of the Trojans net from ten yards.

With a two-goal lead, and having their way in both attack and defence, Cougars never had to shift gears under pressure.

What was more surprising was that, although playing with two strikers, the visiting side did not to attempt their first shot at goal until there was only 13 minutes left.

Their best chance came in the dying stages when substitute Kirk Brown flicked a ball over the Cougars back four, resulting in a foot race. Cougars goalkeeper Daniel Johnson was quick to spot the danger, however, and came out to punch clear.

Tre Dill, who replaced Mark Steede, almost rubbed salt in Somerset’s wounds just before the final whistle, but his shot hit the outside of the near post with Bean going to the opposite direction.

“In matches like this where you have played the same opponent twice, you have to make subtle changes, not big ones that change the whole complexion of the side,” Brown said. “We made the necessary adjustments, they worked, the guys came out looking to get on top from the outset, so overall I’m pleased.”