Devonshire Colts 1

Devonshire Cougars 1

If Raymond Beach had netted just half of his chances Devonshire Cougars would have won this Premier Division middle of the table battle by a comfortable margin at White Hill Field yesterday.

While Beach had the misfortune of finding Colts' goalkeeper Khabir Dill in solid form he still should have found the goal on several occasions.

However, he was not the only one at fault as fellow forward Heys Wolffe was almost as much a culprit when it came to blowing chances. Included among his miscues was a poorly directed penalty early in the game that Dill punched away after only having to move slightly to his left.

However, it was Wolffe who made the opening goal for Cougars after 30 minutes. Getting a cross from Kwame Steede he fired a shot goalward that deflected into the net off full-back Kevin Simpson to give his team a deserved 1-0 lead.

But prior to that Cougars dominated, creating hole after hole in a defence absent of injured Colts' skipper Shannon Burgess. But for all of their superiority, both territorially and in terms of possession, they failed to break down the rearguard.

Beach's first blown chance came after just ten minutes when he should have hit first-time on the volley a cross from Wolffe when within striking range. Then came the missed penalty two minutes later that was awarded after Sekai Waldron handled.

Only after Cougars finally netted Colts, who had only managed odd isolated attacks that saw Aljame Zuill chase but cause few concerns to the defence, began to play with any urgency.

Their first scoring threat came after 35 minutes when Zuill fired a 15-yarder that sailed inches wide of the post and then eight minutes later Kevin Simpson's troubling 15-yarder was pushed away by Ricardo Brangman in the Cougars goal.

Cougars, though, finished off the half on the attack with Wolffe driving a fierce 26-yarder into the chest of goalkeeper Dill.

The trend was not to continue in the second half as Colts underlined their supremacy from the start with Zuill causing Brangman to move quickly to collect his fine header from a corner after 46 minutes.

The inevitable equaliser came after 56 minutes when midfielder Steven Mendes finished off a useful build-up by Colts, whipping the ball homeduring a scramble 11 yards from goal.

Cougars began to come more into the game after that - Kwame Steede watching in agony as his shot from a Wolffe cross was deflected for a corner after 60 minutes, then Beach had to be stunned when his angled shot was blocked by the advancing goalkeeper.

Mark Ray should have put Colts ahead 2-1 after 81 minutes when he broke through the middle but he hurried his shot inches wide of the post as he was chased by two defenders.

Cougars finished off strong with Beach having two cracks at goal that he blew, first he fired another fierce shot at goalkeeper Dill and then sent an effort over the bar from 15 yards to end his day of frustration.

Devonshire Colts: K.Dill; S.Waldron, A.Thomas, R.Evans, K.Simpson; P.Sampson, M.Ray, Jermaine Belboda (M.Bean, 63 min), S.Mendes; A.Zuill, J.Smith (J.Dill, 63 min). Subs not used: C.Davis, J.Francis, Jamar Dill. Booked: M.Ray, A.Thomas.

Devonshire Cougars: R.Brangman; M.Steede (W.Swan, 55 min), K.Swan (G.Butterfield, 55 min), M.Dill (W.Salaam, 73 min), J.DeShields; K.Steede, O.Butterfield, D.Eve; H.Wolffe, R.Beach, L.Tota. Subs not used: V.Martin, L.Richardson. Booked: W.Salaam.

Men of the match: Omar Butterfield (Cougars); Khabir Dill (Colts).

Referee: Anthony Mouchette.