Devonshire Cougars 5

Devonshire Colts 3

Devonshire Cougars responded to their Dudley Eve Trophy debut with the venom that is associated with their moniker in a rousing win over Devonshire Colts in the nightcap.

Colts asked the first question when Shannon Burgess put them ahead with a sizzling header in the second minute on the end of a Quincy Aberdeen corner. And answer them Cougars did, with Raymond Beach hitting a hat-trick inside the opening half-hour that had Colts reeling.

Galvin Butterfield, a tower of strength throughout for Cougars, ran all of 75 yards to create the first goal for Beach, who finished with a smart, back-post header.

The next two came after slipshod Colts marking, with Beach's form signalling they would have a stiff price to pay.

Such was Colts' frustration that midfield player Kuma Smith got himself needlessly sent off for a second rash challenge, which left them with a mountain to climb.

They responded well enough but first they were forced to endure another Cougars celebration after Beach made the running to let in Heys Wolffe on the stroke of half-time.

Cougars had a host of chances in the second half to put the game away, mostly on the counter-attack, but after the energetic Damon Ming won a penalty, which Burgess converted, the nerves were on edge.

A rushed clearance by Devon Brangman cleared the path for Lloyd Holder to make it 4-3 and Colts missed a glaring opportunity to score an equaliser when Coolridge Durham blazed over an empty net.

Jahkee Smith, who had an earlier effort ruled out for offside, sealed the deal when he raced in from the right and beat Kevin Bean with a low drive.

Devonshire Cougars: R.Brangman; Maxwell Dill, G.Butterfield, C.Smith, D.Brangman; Michael Dill (A.Minors, 56 mins), K.Steede, M.Smith, K.Goddard (J.Smith, 75 mins); H.Wolffe, R.Beach (C.Darrell, 75 mins). Substitutes not used: D.Eve, K.Smith. Booked: Michael Dill, Goddard, Maxwell Dill.

Devonshire Colts: K.Bean; Jermel Belboda, S.Burgess, M.Bean (G.Trott, 70 mins), Jermaine Belboda; K.Burchall, K.Smith, J.Aberdeen (J.Dill, 45 mins); Q.Aberdeen (C.Durham, 66 mins), L.Holder, D.Ming. Substitutes not used: A.Hendrickson, C.Hill. Booked: Dill. Sent off: K.Smith.

Men of the match: R.Beach (Cougars); D.Ming (Colts).

Referee: Anthony Mouchette.