ROCQUAINE United produced the shock of the quarter-final round with a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory to dump Priaulx side Rangers out of the Fletcher Sports FA Cup yesterday. Mark Coutanche’s injury-time penalty cancelled out Jon Veron’s superb opener, then Chris Chamberlain grabbed the winner in the first period of extra time.
Coach Colin Renouf believed it was destiny that Rocquaine would today draw old club Sylvans in the semi-finals, but he was proved wrong when the draw made by GFA’s Jeff Vidamour and Garry Cortez paired them with Bels.
Rocquaine will meet the league champions elect at the Track on 11 or 12 March, while in the other semi Sylvans will host North at St Peter’s.
‘I’m absolutely over the moon - it’s brilliant and I have lost my voice,’ said the veteran former Muratti hero after yesterday’s game.
‘At their age coming back and doing this and beating two Priaulx sides is fantastic.’
Rangers skipper Dave Parrott and Rocquaine sub Adie Exall were both sent off.
Marc McGrath scored two superb goals as Bels sunk St Martin’s in a six-goal thriller at Blanche Pierre Lane and on a weekend of rain and muddy pitches, some unfit for use, North were forced to forsake home advantage and travel to Victoria Avenue to dump Indian Cottage out of the cup.
North coach Mick Le Prevost said he had never seen their tie with their Sunday Soccer League opponents as a potential banana skin.
‘Everyone was saying that, but at the back of my mind I knew that if we lost we come back into the changing room having lost we’d have egg on our faces, because we are superior footballers and far fitter and that’s not being disrespectful to Indian Cottage,’ he said.
‘Hopefully this will now kick start us up for St Martin’s this week. First half we had lots of chances but we weren’t relaxed enough in front of goal.
‘At half-time I said, relax, and the goals will come, and they did. It’s nice to score some goals - it’s given our strikers and the boys who scored some confidence.
‘Fair play to Indian Cottage. They battled hard.’
Article posted on 7th January, 2008 - 12.00am
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