BAA 1 West End United 0

An own goal from West End United central defender Kevin Cabral proved to be the difference in this heated FA Cup preliminary round clash at Goose Gosling Field yesterday.

Cabral headed Ian Simmons’s long ball past Cymande Davis, the United goalkeeper, near the end of the first half, which was enough to send inaugural FA Cup winners BAA through to the next round.

United’s frustrations were best summed up in the late dismissal of midfielder Jelani Butterfield, who lost his cool during a flare-up between both teams that delayed proceedings for several minutes.

United midfielder Shawn Simons shoved Simmons, who clung to the ball after the Corona League champions were awarded a free-kick.

This brought players from both sides together and, after several minutes of shoving and arguing, Butterfield received his marching orders for foul and abusive language and threatening conduct while BAA pair Seth Somner and Simmons were booked for unsportsmanlike conduct and time-wasting.

United were fortunate not have had another player sent off after midfielder Adolphus Lambert escaped with only a booking after catching Bermuda international Willie Clemons with a late tackle moments earlier.

BAA were the far better team and should have killed the game off by half-time.

However, their inability to put away their chances not only made the scoreline flattering, but also kept a United side who were always a pace or two behind their younger counterparts in contention.

Morricko Iris and Clemons, who scored one of Bermuda’s goals against Barbados at the National Stadium the previous night, were the chief culprits as they spurned a plethora of opportunities.

BAA were also denied by the woodwork twice while United goalkeeper Davis made a string of saves to keep the scoreline tidy.

Such was the home team’s dominance, BAA goalkeeper Sereiko Thomas was only called upon into action once in the 79th minute to save substitute Rohaan Simons’s tame effort — United’s only shot on target.

After establishing early control, BAA were initially awarded a penalty when United were blown for a handball in the box. However, after consulting with his assistant, the referee changed his decision and awarded the home side a free-kick instead.

BAA went close in the 29th minute when forward Josh Hartman had a shot cleared off the line by United left back Jahvon Mallory while Clemons and Iris both tested Davis.

The hosts finally made the breakthrough with a helping hand from Cabral who headed Simmons’s long pass into his own goal attempting to clear the ball away.

United, who spent most of the match pinned in their own half, failed to muster a single shot on goal during the first half.

BAA should have doubled their advantage early in the second half when Iris showed the United defence a clean pair of heels.

However, the forward took one touch too many, which allowed Davis to rush off his line after clearing the danger.

The hosts went even closer minutes later when right back Quintonio Lema’s free-kick hit the woodwork while Iris blew another chance after being played through by Clemons.

United switched to a 4-4-2 formation after Simons came off the bench to try and add some spark to his team’s attack.

But by now BAA’s superior athleticism and movement had taken its toll and they were unfortunate not to pull farther away, with Clemons having a shot tipped onto the bar by Davis and then dragging wide from close range. Team-mate Eduardo Vieira then fired over from two yards out.

SCORER

BAA

Cabral (og) 32

TEAMS

BAA: S Thomas ­— M Hartman, S Somner, A Darrell, Q Lema, E Correia, I Simmons, J Hartman (sub: L Thomas, 63) E Vieira (sub: R Lopes, 87), M Iris, W Clemons. Substitutes not used: M Mendes, M Brangman, A Carvelho, D Wright. Booked: S Thomas, Somner, Simmons.

West End United: C Davis — J Mallory, K Cabral, J Smith, C Lema, M Mota (sub: R Simons, 55), T Corday, S Simmons, J Butterfield, A Lambert (sub: P Maybury, 75), L Crofton. Substitutes not used: M Decoute, K Dill, A Forde. Booked: Cabral, Lambert. Sent off: Butterfield.

Referee: L Raynor