Bels’ AJ Saunders and North centre-backs Sam Stables and Michael Wilson ready themselves for a cross into the box. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0697198)

Bels 3, North 1
FROM the first minute on Saturday Bels were not going to be denied victory in the biggest of the quarter-final ties.

That they took the lead within those 60 seconds probably encouraged them even more to beat their modern-day rivals and their spirit never waned throughout the remaining 89 minutes.

North continued fighting right to the end, but anything other than a home win at the Track would have been an injustice .

It was the in-form Dave Rihoy who caused alarm bells to start ringing in the chocolate-and-blue defence in the first attack of the game and when he nicked the ball over the already-committed Richard Davey and was brought down by the keeper, referee Ian Drillot had no option but to award a penalty with only 32sec. on the watch.

Simon Marley stepped up to convert with aplomb – right into the top corner – to leave many late arrivals asking what had just happened.

North did not panic and were level on the quarter-of-an-hour mark as Craig Young won a 50-50 challenge with Brent Marquand and hit a low shot across Rhys Gower into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.