Somerset Trojans 2 Devonshire Cougars 2

Somerset Trojans and Devonshire Cougars were forced to settle for a share of the spoils after this four-goal thriller ended in stalemate at Somerset Cricket Club yesterday.

Cougars showed plenty of heart to claw their way back after falling behind twice and were unfortunate not to come away with all of the points having carved out more clear-cut chances. The visiting side also had two strong appeals for penalties fall on deaf ears.

An aggressive Somerset seized early control and it came as no real surprise when college student Justin Donawa put the hosts ahead after Cougars were caught in possession deep in their own half.

Mikkiel Thomas, the Bermuda Under-20 player, was dispossessed by Hubert Butterfield playing casually just in front of his own 18-yard box. Butterfield, the Trojans striker, dribbled a yard or two before slipping a short pass to the open Donawa who took a touch before rifling a low angled drive past Xyon Outerbridge-Smith.

Thomas would make amends, though, as he had a hand in Cougars’ equaliser.

The midfielder crossed in the box where Machi Battersbee controlled the ball and laid it on for college student Juma Mouchette to crash past Shaquille Bean.

The visiting side suffered a setback in the 37th minute when full back Darren Williams was unintentionally kicked in the head by Butterfield challenging for possession in his own box.

Trojans regained the lead early in the second half through a goalkeeping blunder by Outerbridge-Smith who failed to hold onto Antione Seaman’s angled shot, allowing Butterfield an easy tap in.

However, Cougars again clawed their way back within five minutes with Thomas heavily involved in the build-up.

The midfielder slipped a clever short free kick to the left side of the Trojans’ wall where Cashun Brangman crossed in the middle for Zeko White to sweep the ball into the roof of the net.

Albouy let his frustrations be known after the final whistle before cooler heads prevailed.

SCORERS

Somerset Trojans

Donawa 8

Butterfield 50

Devonshire Cougars

Mouchette 21

Zeko White 55

TEAMS

Somerset Trojans (4-3-3): S Bean — T Outerbridge, S Brangman, D Benjamin, D Lister — D Swan (sub: D Woods, 62min), A Trott, J Corday — J Donawa, A Seaman (sub: J Seymour, 59), H Butterfield (sub: J Bean 59). Substitutes not used: K Wilson, J Greaves. Booked: Swan, J Bean.

Devonshire Cougars (4-3-3): X Outerbridge- Smith — J Butterfield (sub: J Smith, 63), C Maybury, Zekiro White, D Williams (sub: M Rudo 37) — Zeko White, M Thomas, M Battersbee — J Mouchette, C Brangman, C Burns (sub: C Albouy 59). Substitutes not used: N Carmichael, H Stevens-Carty. Booked: Burns.

Referee: R Cann.