Dev. Cougars 1 S.Trojans 1

One moment of indecision and wasteful finishing cost Devonshire Cougars, the league leaders, a glorious opportunity to distance themselves from the chasing pack in the Premier Division.

Gifted the lead as early as the third minute through a Tyrone Fubler own goal, Cougars spurned countless chances to confirm first-half superiority and then lived a charmed life after Tokia Russell, a substitute, drew the visiting team level, and a share of the points in the end looked a fair result.

"We missed a lot of chances last week and it seems like it has carried into this week," Albert Smith, the Cougars assistant coach, said. "I'll take the point but I think we should have won it, especially playing at home."

Spurred on by a vocal following, Cougars ran hard at Somerset right from the start with Mark Mills, the forward, playing against his former team-mates, displaying good touch. His combination with Raymond Beach and Heys Wolffe, the midfield player, threatened repeatedly against a struggling Somerset defence. And it was from a Mills cross that the home side took the lead as Fubler's attempted clearance looped over the head of a flailing Timmy Figureido in goal. If this was hard on Somerset, their lack of response gave no clue.

Difficult though the playing surface was, the strategy to start with five in the midfield, with Dwight Basden alone up front appeared seriously flawed given their inability to string passes together. What little action there was happened in the Somerset goal area, where Figureido needed to be brave to clear his lines on at least one occasion.

The Bermuda international would play a central role in a hectic second-half where tired legs gave way to opportunity at both ends. Somerset threw on Russell for the ineffective Franklyn Simmons and soon after made a double substitution to introduce the youthful pairing of Roydon Brangman and Dion Stovell for Michael Brangman and Basden, whose selfless running up front was later applauded by Mark Trott, the Somerset coach.

But first it was up to Figureido to keep the Trojans in the game, and he did so with a magnificent save from point-blank range within seconds of the restart. Again, Mark Smith played a pivotal role with a hard and low cross after being sent clear on the right by Kori Goddard. Two Somerset defenders missed their kick, leaving Beach with what appeared a tap-in but Figureido recovered admirably to leave the young forward praying to the heavens.

Four minutes later, the goalkeeper reacted sharply again, this time to deny Smith with his left leg after a simple ball from Goddard outsmarted a flat Somerset back four. Such was nature of this match that Figureido nearly turned from hero to fool when he failed to control a back pass and let in an alert Beach, but the youngster ran the ball too far and the goalkeeper's blushes were spared.

The sense that Cougars were toying with danger appeared real when Dave Lawler had a snap shot charged down and, on the hour, the Trojans were level. A hopeful ball was played down the Cougars left and Russell cashed in as Ricardo Brangman, who otherwise had a comfortable night, reacted slowly.

It was a cruel twist for Cougars, given their dominance, but the visiting team now looked up for it and pressed on with Karl Roberts surrendering his defensive duties to lead a three-man attack.

Lawler had another shot deflected over and Cougars breathed a sigh of relief when an indirect free-kick from 10 yards out was charged down after an unintentional, 40-yard back pass was caught by the goalkeeper.

Cougars continued to threaten when going forward, with Mark Smith excelling in a withdrawn position, but they lacked the cutting edge around the area. The best chance, however, fell to Somerset but Stovell, the national youth team star, attempted a cute chip that never had a chance of beating Brangman.

"The point was well-deserved in the end," Trott said. "To the credit of the younger players that came on they showed that they're willing to battle and do the job."

DEVONSHIRE COUGARS: R.Brangman; E.Richardson (J.DeShields, 68 mins), G.Butterfield, C.Smith, D.Brangman; K.Goddard (C.Darrell, 77 mins), S.Smith, H.Wolffe, K.Saltus (R.Clacken, 68 mins); R.Beach, M.Smith. Subs not used: L.Richardson, S.Dill.

SOMERSET TROJANS: T.Figureido; T.Fubler, K.Roberts, R.Scott, A.Rahman; M.Brangman (D.Stovell, 59 mins), O.Shakir, R.Simmons, D.Lawler, F.Simmons (T.Russell, 45 mins); D.Basden (R.Brangman, 59 mins). Subs not used: M.Belboda, S.Mendes.

Booked: R.Clacken, G.Butterfield (Cougars)

Men of the match: M.Smith (Cougars); T.Figureido (Trojans).

Referee: G.Simons.

Any one of four clubs can seize on the inability of Cougars to gain maximum points last night, as PHC take on North Village at Somerset Cricket Club and Devonshire Colts meet Wolves at White Hill field tomorrow. Each of the teams have six points in what is shaping up as a tense start to the season. The final game tomorrow sees St. George's, fresh from a shock defeat of North Village last weekend, at home to Dandy Town, the champions, who are now bottom of the table.