Devonshire Colts retained the Friendship Trophy last night at the National Stadium, bringing new league champions PHC down to size in the process.

For a team that made losing in finals a regular occurrance a few years ago, Colts are now on a winning streak, adding this trophy to the Charity Cup and Dudley Eve titles they won earlier in the season.

Colts were determined to hang on to the Friendship Trophy they won last year, while PHC looked to be feeling the effects of too much celebrating after wrapping up the league title last weekend.

PHC didn't start to play their best football until after Colts had taken a 2-0 in the first half, as Zebras coach Sammy Swan sat shaking his head on the bench as he regretted his decision not to play.

Even so, PHC applied the early pressure, forcing three quick corners in the opening minutes.

Wearing black armbands as a show of respect to coach David Furbert whose father passed away, Colts took the lead in the 16th minute from a corner on the right side by Tito Smith which Clevon Hill turned into the goal from close range.

PHC had a good opportunity to equalise minutes later when a perfect through ball set up Raynel Lightbourne on the left side. He laid a good cross into the path of Duval Wilson who shot wide.

At the other end Aljame Zuill shot straight at Quincy Hunt in the PHC goal after he ran through on the left. PHC were looking disorganised in defence and Colts made them pay with a second goal in the 31st minute when Hadley Tucker was blown down for a handball inside the box and Shannon Burgess tucked his spotkick inside Hunt's right-hand post.

The warning bells were ringing in PHC's camp now as they quickly had Stephen Astwood and Kenny Mills warming up. In the 39th minute PHC pulled a goal back when McLee Smith laid the ball into the path of Otis Steede to drive a low shot into the far corner.

Finally the Zebras had awaken from their sleep as the first half finished on an exciting note. And much of the same was expected at the start of the second half when Astwood replaced Wilson and Enwar Hunt came on for Tucker in defence.

Colts were forced into their first substitution in the 39th minute when the injured Tito Smith limped off to be replaced by Wayne Henry.

Andre Washington kept PHC in the game by heading a goalbound lob by Zuill off the line. Then a glancing header by the Colts captain to a Belboda freekick just missed the far post as PHC began to slump again.

A good move by PHC resulted in Astwood's curling shot just missing the far post. But Colts always looked good for anther goal as Belboda twisted Enwar Hunt inside out before setting up substitute Ricky Saltus who blasted wide.

Saltus had just come on for Hill who suffered a cut lip and a sprained hand as he fell from a challenge from Astwood.

Colts, with Belboda and Zuill combining well up front, kept the pressure on the Zebras defence as midfielder Geron Trott's lob into the box dropped on top of the crossbar in the closing minutes.

Three minutes from the end Saltus, after a couple of glaring misses, made a amends with Colts' third goal which sealed the win. A corner on the left by Belboda came off the PHC defence and Saltus pounced to lift a left footed shot into the roof of the net.

Colts: T.Hall; J.Belboda, S.Burgess, N.Samuels, J.Simmons; J.Samuels, G.Trott, T.Smith (W.Henry 39min), C.Hill (R.Saltus 65min), A.Zuill, M.Belboda.

PHC: Q.Hunt; H.Tucker (E.Hunt 46min), R.Lewis, D.Outerbridge, A.Washington, O.Steede, C.Furbert, S.Lewis, D.Wilson (S.Astwood 46min), R.Lightbourne, M.Smith (K.Mills 68min).

Referee: Lyndon Raynor Men of the match: Marvin Belboda (Colts), Dano Outerbridge (PHC).

Yellow cards: None