X-Roads Warriors 1 Devonshire Cougars 4

Devonshire Cougars clawed their way to a spot in the Friendship Trophy semi-finals with a hard fought win over X-Roads Warriors at Goose Gosling Field last night.

Cougars led 2-1 at the break on first half tallies from Chekai Caisey and Domico Coddington either side of Jaman Lottimore’s stunning equaliser.

Drewonde Bascome then converted twice from the penalty spot in the second half to put the game beyond X-Roads’ reach in what was the second meeting between the two teams in a week.

Kwame Steede, the Cougars coach, was happy to see his team advance but was far from satisfied with their overall performance and wasteful finishing.

“I thought we made the game hard,” he said. “The scoreline reflects certain parts how we played but I thought we still didn’t play up to par.

“Definitely pleased to go through to the next round but the performance is everything.

Cougars wasted a hosts of clear cut opportunities to blow the opposition away, particularly in the second half with the game already virtually sewn up.

“We missed tap-ins; breaking the line and we still didn’t score,” Steede said. “I can come away with the positives but we also have to look at the negatives for the next game.”

Cougars started the brighter of the two sides and took a deserved lead when the unmarked Caisey drilled in Bascome’s low cross from the left side of the box after being played in behind by Coddington’s through pass.

X-Roads responded with striker Donavan Thompson's firm drive from Lottimore's corner being blocked right in front of goal.

Cougars pressed on with X-Roads goalkeeper Q'Shai Darrell rushing off his line to beat Chekai Caisey to Zari Simmons’s through pass in the box.

The game turned on its head when Lottimore grabbed a spectacular equaliser against the grain. The forward gained possession some 35 yards out and beat Cougars goalkeeper Ricardo Brangman with a fierce low drive.

Lottimore threatened again moments later but this time blasted Darron Simons's cross high and wide from a tight angle at the back post.

Cougars settled down and after reorganising themselves, regained the lead when Coddington wriggled his way past two defenders and slotted home virtually standing on the touchline at the near post.

Darrell then pushed Bascome’s low drive around the post as Cougars finished the half strongly.

X-Roads striker Thompson required treatment after colliding with Brangman who rushed off his line to clear away Lottimore’s dangerous diagonal cross shortly after the restart.

Coddington squandered a glorious chance when he miskicked Daren Williams’s high corner at the back post.

The experienced forward redeemed himself somewhat when he earned Cougars a penalty after being brought down by defender Nassir Richardson in the box. Bascome tucked the ball in the bottom right corner to virtually end the match as a contest.

Live-wire forward Chekai Caisey brought off a brilliant fingertip save by Darrell, while substitute Elisha Darrell had a header cleared off the line by Richardson.

Coddington spurned another opportunity by blasting substitute Lejaun Simmons’s cross over from 10 yards.

He then earned his team a second penalty after his shot was handled in the box. Once again Bascome was equal to the task, this time slotting the ball into the bottom left corner past a flat footed Darrell.

Cougars substitute Darrell had a shot from point blank range saved before squandering two gilt edge opportunities, one standing two yards in front of an open net.

• Omeek Smith's 79th-minute goal sent Wolves through to the First Division Shield semi-finals courtesy of a 2-1 win over St David’s in the opener at Goose Gosling Field.

The defender drilled in Jason Davis's corner to finally settle an evenly-fought battle.

Earlier, midfielder Davis gave Wolves a 37th-minute lead after finishing off a fluent attack down the middle.

St David's battled on and eventually equalised in the 61st minute when Iyuan Smith ran on to Keijon Butterfield's through-ball and scored.

SCORERS

X-Roads Warriors: Lottimore 33

Devonshire Cougars: Chekai Caisey 7, Coddington 39, Bascome 61 pen, 79 pen

TEAMS

X-Roads (4-1-4-1): Q Darrell 7 – R Beek 7, N Richardson 7, J Furbert 7, D Woolridge 6 (sub: M Thomas 46min, 7) – A Daniels 8 – T Daniels 7, D Simons 7 (sub: J Morgan 75), M Johnson 7 (sub: A Wilson 83), J Lottimore 8 (sub: Z McCarter 75) – D Thompson 7. Substitutes not used: J Minks, R Hare. Booked: Woolridge.

Devonshire Cougars (4-1-4-1): R Brangman 7 – J Thomas 7, Zion Simmons 7, Z White 7, D Williams 7 (sub: A Cannonier 83) – Q Maynard 7 – Zari Simmons 7, Chris Caisey 6 (sub: L Simmons 65 7), Chekai Caisey 7 (sub: E Darrell 65 6), D Coddington 7 (sub: C Albouy 83) – D Bascome 7 (sub: K Minors 83). Substitutes not used: J Mouchette, M Battersbee.

Referee: A Francis.