Flanagan’s Onions 1 Devonshire Cougars 2

Devonshire Cougars won their first league game of the year after fighting back from a goal down against Flanagan’s Onions in the Premier Division at Goose Gosling Field on Saturday.

Cougars, who won the Dudley Eve Trophy and Friendship Trophy last year, fell behind early in the second half when Treshun Smith finished from close range after good work by Keston Lewis.

Onions then survived a couple of scares in quick succession with Zeko White hitting the woodwork before Nyeem Simmons scooped a shot over goalkeeper Stephen Gould’s crossbar. Cougars’ pressure finally paid off when they drew level in the 68th minute through Cashun Brangman who scrambled home a free kick.

Onions have been unfortunate in recent weeks, drawing 2-2 at home to PHC Zebras and suffering a 1-0 defeat away to North Village last weekend, and were denied victory again as Zekiro White drove home a winner for Cougars in the 80th minute.

A late chance went begging for Onions after Pete Robey picked out Smith who somehow failed to get on the end of the inviting cross with a mistimed diving header.

A disappointed Mick Ward, the Onions coach, believes his team were deserving of a share of the spoils as they continue their fight to stave off relegation.

“The past few games we’ve put in some top performance against the top four teams,” said Ward, whose side are ninth in the table.

“The lads have shown lots of fight and it’s just been that final ball or clinical touch in front of goal that’s been lacking.

“It’s disappointing because we were in front and things just don’t seem to be falling our way.”

Omar Butterfield, the Cougars coach, said it was important his team returned to winning ways after a slow start to the new year.

“It was a good result, although I wasn’t too happy with our performance,” he said. “We’ve been struggling for goals lately, so it was good to get two goals today.”

Teams

Flanagan’s Onions (4-5-1): S Gould — J Scott, C Berkeley, Markez Laws (sub: N N Dunkle, 78min), Martel Laws — M Lindsay-Bailey, P Robey, J Knight, B Turner (sub: C Burns, 78), T Smith — K Lewis. Substitutes not used: D Thompson, M Ward, J Cook, S Butler. Booked: Scott.

Devonshire Cougars (4-3-3): X Outerbridge — D Williams, K Franks, Zekiro White, M Rudo — Zekiro White, N Carmichael, N Simmons (sub: H Stevens-Carty, 75) — S Pearman, M Battersbee, C Brangman. Substitutes not used: J Mallory, L Tota.

Referee: C Trott