North Village Rams 3 Paget Lions 1 - After Extra Time
The North Village Rams kept their dreams of a successful title defence alive, but only after being pushed to the absolute limit by a resilient Paget Lions side at Bernard Park.
The FA Challenge Cup holders eventually secured their passage to the semi-finals with a 3–1 victory, though they required an additional thirty minutes of extra time to shake off their stubborn opponents.
In a match defined by tactical patience, the Rams finally broke the deadlock just before the interval. Jai Bean, who would go on to be the defining figure of the afternoon, found the back of the net in the 42nd minute to give the favourites a slender advantage at the break. For much of the second half, it appeared that a single goal would be enough to see the champions through, as they controlled possession and stifled the Lions' counter-attacking threats.
However, the Paget Lions refused to follow the script. With just eight minutes of regulation time remaining, Julian Carpenter capitalised on a lapse in the Rams' defence to fire home an equaliser. The dramatic 82nd-minute strike stunned the home support and invigorated the visitors, who successfully navigated the closing stages of the ninety minutes to force the contest into extra time.
The Rams wasted no time in reasserting their authority during the additional period. Just sixty seconds into the first half of extra time, Bean struck again to restore North Village’s lead and deflate the rising Paget momentum. The forward then completed his hat-trick in the 102nd minute, clinically finishing a swift attacking move to effectively end the game as a contest.
The victory ensures the North Village Rams join the PHC Zebras in the hat for the semi-final draw, as they continue their march toward another potential triumph at the National Sports Centre. While the Lions will exit the competition with their heads held high, it is Bean’s clinical finishing that remains the story of the round, keeping the Rams' treble hopes firmly on track.
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