The Shield and Friendship Trophy quarter-final weekend ignited with a high-scoring double-header under the lights at the Devonshire Recreation Club. Fans were treated to a night of contrasting fortunes as the Somerset Trojans delivered a clinical shutout, while the Devonshire Cougars had to battle back from a goal down to keep their trophy ambitions alive.
Shield
Somerset Trojans 4 St. David’s 0
In the opening Shield encounter, the Somerset Trojans secured their place in the Shield Semi-Final draw with a dominant 4-0 victory over St. David’s.
Enrique Mendes broke the deadlock in the 25th minute to give the Trojans the early advantage. The lead was doubled before the interval courtesy of an unfortunate own goal, allowing Somerset to head into the break with a comfortable 2-0 cushion.
The Trojans continued to press in the second half, with Leo Burgess extending the lead to three in the 76th minute. The rout was completed four minutes from time when Isaiah Francis found the net in the 86th minute to seal a comprehensive win.
Friendship
Devonshire Cougars 4 Young Men Social Club 2
The subsequent Friendship Trophy clash proved to be a far more competitive affair as the Devonshire Cougars eventually overcame Young Men Social Club 4-2. Social Club threatened an upset early on when Ayden Gardner opened the scoring in the 14th minute, a strike that remained the solitary goal of the first half.
The Cougars emerged with renewed intent after the restart, equalizing through Matteo Turner in the 56th minute before a rapid-fire double completely shifted the momentum. Samario Valasse-Paul gave Devonshire their first lead of the night in the 67th minute, and Kyden Browne added a third just two minutes later. Although Robert Edwards managed to pull a goal back for Social Club in the 75th minute to set up a tense finale, Mosiais Mills struck in the 78th minute to restore the two-goal advantage and ensure the Cougars' progression to the final four.
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