Old Vic holders survive tough first-round clash

A DISPUTED free kick cost Bels dearly in their Old Vic Cup clash with North. The chocolate-and-blues side went ahead through skipper James Mullen's left-footed strike from around the penalty spot after about 25 minutes.

His controversial free kick was then headed home by Aaron Lamb at the near post to make it 2-0.

'We played well and created about four one-on-ones, which we did not convert. We had a few injuries to Miles Pengelley and Etienne Le Prevost, but the lads who came in all played well,' said Mullen, 18. 'Being the holders it meant a lot to us to go through against a strong Bels side.'

He believed the controversial free kick was right to have been awarded.

However, Bels Youth One coach Ray Queripel said: 'They had a dubious free kick for the second that the linesman gave, not the ref. I did not feel it was a free kick and it knocked the stuffing out of us.'

Bels' Robbie Williams pulled one back with a scrappy goal from a corner with less than 10 minutes left.

'He has been excellent this season and his work rate is phenomenal for the team,' said Queripel.

Bels goalkeeper Scott Rowe enjoyed a fine game.

But Queripel is not too despondent and his lads will now be concentrating on the league.

'There are four teams that can win the league. Us, North, Vale Rec and Sylvans will beat each other all season,' he predicted.

'I don't think any team will run away with it. We will be there or thereabouts and I don't want to put any pressure on the boys.

'The cup is a one-off game and is nice to be in but it's not a disaster to be out. The league and the Upton are the important things,' he stressed.

North will meet Sylvans in the semi-finals.

St Martin's will meet Vale Rec in the other after a 3-2 extra-time victory against Rangers.

'I thought they did very well and we have been very progressive this season. They work very hard and I was proud of them,' said delighted Saints coach Liam Davey.

'We dominated most of the play.'

Yesterday, Davey was still upset at a refereeing decision early in the game which he felt should have been a clear-cut penalty but was not given and Luke Winch was booked for diving instead.

Russell McCarthy's whipped-in cross found Wing Kin Lai to tap home from eight yards to give St Martin's a half-time lead.

But Rangers equalised through a 30-yard right-footed half-volley by substitute Stef Loveridge.

Lai then regained the lead for Saints before Rangers again equalised through Josh McClean.

In the first period of extra time, Winch clinched the game with a fine 25-yard free kick.

'I'm pleased with the second-half performance and performance in extra time,' said Rangers coach Simon Goddard.

'I think there are a lot more positives that came out of the second half than negatives. We will go into our next game against Rovers on a high.'

Vale Rec beat Rovers 7-0 with two goals from Simon Shaw and Greg Roland, Martyn Moullin, Tom de Garis, David Hooper and Jordan Smith also on target.