Devonshire Cougars 2

Somerset Eagles 0

Top marksmen Raymond Beach and Heys Wolfe netted twice late in the game to clip the wings of visiting Eagles at Devonshire Rec. yesterday as Cougars maintained a share of the Premier Division lead.

The pair, regarded as two of the most deadly finishers in local soccer ? although both have been missing opportunities of late ? answered the call for Cougars just when it looked as though Eagles might snatch a share of the spoils.

Beach struck first, hitting the opener after 74 minutes when a fierce shot by Wolfe was blocked by Eagles goalkeeper Ian Raynor. Beach was on hand to tap home the rebound from close range.

That goal came after Beach had come close to opening his account just 45 seconds earlier when Raynor had to advance off his goal-line to block the striker?s effort.

But the lively front pair combined again after 79 minutes, this time Beach providing the cross for Wolfe to steer his shot home from eight yards out.

Cougars, however, were anything but dominant, especially during the early stages of the first half when Eagles worked hard and pinned down their opponents for long spells.

The visitors, playing with more enthusiasm and fight, mounted a series of attacks and should have scored first.

Their best chance came after 17 minutes when forward Lamaul Crofton crossed to the unmarked Rodre Wilson in the middle but the striker astonishingly headed against the post from close range.

With Sean Simmons prominent in midfield for Eagles and forwards Darren Dowling, Crofton and Wilson always needing to be watched, Cougars were unable to find any sort of rhythm until the game was 20 minutes old.

The home side, however, slowly came into the game and with Kwame Steede a workhorse in midfield they were able to eventually take the initiative.

Dennis Eve, Kris Martin and Steede all had shots that fizzed wide of the upright within a span of six minutes and then Shaki Minors narrowly missed his target after 29 minutes.

Cougars finally got the ball into the net after 30 minutes when Minors? shot was blocked by Raynor but Wolfe, who applied the finishing touch, was ruled offside.

Four minutes later Wolfe received a ball from Beach and thundered it into Raynor?s chest. Then further pressure after 39 minutes saw centre-back Desmond Burgess save Eagles by smartly heading away an effort by Minors that had goal written all over it.

A minute before the half and with a Cougars goal still seeming imminent, Steede watched in frustration as his fine header after a cross by Joshua Butterfield crashed against the bar.

When play restarted Cougars were unable to show the same authority and it was Eagles who looked more hungry.

A minute into the half Dowling?s angled shot was blocked by Ricardo Brangman in the Cougars goal but the home side countered with Raynor having to dive to save a blast from Wolfe from 13 yards out.

With the exception of the solo runs by Wilson up front, the West Enders faded, again allowing Cougars to take control.

Beach and Wolfe began showing a greater appetite for goals and it wasn?t surprise when they struck to lead their team to victory.

A minute?s silence was held at the start of the game for Royal Gazette photographer Arthur Bean, who passed away last week.

Devonshire Cougars: R.Brangman; J.Butterfield, S.Smith, O.Butterfield, J.DeShields; K.Steede, D.Eve (S.Wade, 56 mins), K.Martin; S.Minors (L.Tota, 67 mins), R.Beach, H.Wolfe. Subs not used: E.Bean, L.Robinson.

Yellow cards: S.Wade, S.Smith.

Somerset Eagles: I.Raynor; K.Simons, D.Burgess, S.Worrell, M.Hunt; J.Butterfield, S.Simmons, S.Dill; L.Crofton, R.Wilson (R.Simmons, 80 mins), D.Dowling (N.Smith, 75 mins). Subs not used: G.Hill, C.Millan.

Yellow cards: K.Simmons.

Men of the match: K.Steede (Cougars); S.Simmons (Eagles).

Referee: Lyndon Raynor