Devonshire Cougars 2 X-Roads Warriors 1

Devonshire Cougars did just enough to come away with maximum points from a scrappy Premier Division contest against X-Roads at Devonshire Recreation Club last night.

The hosts jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the second half through goals from Chris Caisey and Chekai Caisey before Marcus Johnson pulled one back for the visitors to keep them in with a shout.

Cougars should have put the game far beyond their opponents’ reach by then, but squandered clear cut opportunities, with goal scorer Chris Caisey, Domico Coddington and substitute Elisha Darrell among the chief culprits.

Kwame Steede, the Cougars coach, was not impressed by his team’s failure to convert their chances and after the final whistle had strong words for his players in the dressing room.

Cougars had an early scare when striker Drewondie Bascome took a knock seconds into the match which held up play for several minutes as he received treatment.

The hosts then dodged a bullet when X-Roads striker Donavan Thompson nearly intercepted Zari Simmons's back pass and then dragged Jamon Lottimore’s pass down the right side wide of the far post.

Cougars struggled to string passes together and were virtually non-existent in midfield, which allowed their opponents to get into dangerous areas at will with Thompson and Lottimore proving a constant threat on the quick break.

The visitors' momentum was interrupted when defender Tymon Daniels took a knock on the shin which also required treatment.

But they picked up where they left off when play resumed with Cougars surviving a goalmouth scramble, while midfielder Jhashun Minks sliced Lottimore's cross with only goalkeeper Ricardo Brangman to beat, as the visitors finished the half in the ascendancy.

Cougars only managed one attempt at goal with Bascome's free kick from outside the box causing no concern for X-Roads goalkeeper Q’Shai Darrell.

Whatever words Steede drilled into his players during the break did the trick as the hosts finally broke through early in the second half.

Chris Caisey got on the end of Coddington's cross in the box and beat Darrell from close range at the near post.

The goal sparked life in Cougars, who pressed on in search of more, as the momentum shifted their way.

Chris Caisey found himself in space in the box but was denied by the crossbar. However, X- Roads would not be as lucky moments later as Chekai Caisey gathered Zari Simmons's pass on the left side of the box and steered the ball through Darrell's legs and into the back of the net to double Cougars' advantage.

The hosts continued to pile on the pressure but wasted another gilt edge chance when Coddington and Chris Caisey both failed to connect with Darrell's pass across an open net.

X-Roads stunned their hosts when Johnson cut the deficit in half with a wonder strike. The forward controlled Lottimore’s pass and unleashed a vicious volley from 35 – yards that swerved inside Brangman’s near post.

Coddington should have restored Cougars’ two goal advantage but shot over a wide open goal after rounding Darrell on a breakaway.

Coddington and Darrell had further opportunities to kill the game off but were unable to add to their team's tally, which ultimately proved enough to secure the points.

SCORERS

Devonshire Cougars: Chris Caisey 49, Chekai Caisey 72

X-Roads Warriors: Johnson 81

TEAMS

Devonshire Cougars (4-1-4-1): R Brangman 7 – J Thomas 7, Zion Simmons 7, K White 7, D Williams 7 – Q Maynard 7 – Zari Simmons 7 (sub: K Minors 73min), Chris Caisey 7, Chekai Caisey 7 (sub: E Darrell 73), D Coddington 7 – D Bascome 7. Substitutes not used: J Mouchette, M Battersbee, A Cannonier, C Albouy, J Furbert-Wade. Booked: Zion Simmons.

X Roads Warriors (4-1-4-1): Q Darrell 7 – R Beek 7 (sub: D Baker 75), T Daniels 7, D Scott-Woolridge 7, L Simmons 7 – M Thomas 7 – J Minks 6 (sub: R Hare 58, 7), D Simons 7 (sub: N Rawlins-Simons 82), M Johnson 7, J Lottimore 7 – D Thompson 7. Substitutes not used: A Wilson, Z McCarter, G Gibbons. Booked: Simmons.

Referee: A Francis.