Devonshire Cougars 4Devonshire Cougars: R.Brangman, K.Franks (J.Smith,116), D.Cox, J.Butterfield, K.Tucker,M.Steede, T.Steede (S.Pearman,72), D.Coddington, C.Caisey, S.Brangman, L.Simmons

North Village 4 (aet)

Villlage win 4-2 on penalties

North Village Rams skipper Sammy DeGraff was all smiles yesterday as his side came from behind four times in –regulation and stoppage time to beat Devonshire Cougars 4-2 on penalties and successfully defend their Dudley Eve title in a thrilling match at Wellington Oval.

Staring defeat square in the face, the defending champions were saved deep in extra-time by a Thomas Watson strike that sent the match into penalties.

DeGraff, who brought his side back into the match with one of the many crucial levellers in the tupsy turvy affair, described the game as one the best this season.

"It was a match for the fans, both teams have a killer attitude and wanted to win the match and it was exciting for everyone that watched," said DeGraff.

"Neither side wanted to lose, we came back every time they scored and I'm happy for the fans more than anything as they got to see a good game of football.

"Last year they beat us in the FA Cup semi-finals so it felt good to exact a little revenge.

"Looking at the games we have played against one another we all knew it would be hard and I'm glad we came out on top."

Cougars, for all their hard work, should have been clear in the opening 15 minutes with the side having a handful of gilt-edged chances.

Winger Lejuan Simmons dispossessed Rams defend Devrae Tankard deep in Village territory in the fourth minute and crossed to skipper Domico Coddington but the subsequent lay-off to Tumaini Steede was hit wide.

Steede was chief menace to the champions' defence, along with Coddington, and could have put his side ahead minutes later when he was put through on the right.

His effort rattled the crossbar before going out for a goal kick.

It was Steede, however, who broke the deadlock in the 38th minute with a scintillating diving header after a fine piece of work by Coddington down the flank, with his pinpoint cross finding the midfielder in space in the Rams area.

With the game losing its excitement in the second half, DeGraff levelled matters in the 85th minute to seemingly have the match heading towards extra-time.

And the goal jolted both sides into action, with Coddington making it 2-1 in the first minute of injury time before Jason Lee again brought the Rams even at two apiece two minutes after Coddington's goal.

Village fans would have been cursing their side's luck in the first half of extra-time when Taurean Manders put the ball into his own net but Keishen Bean made it three minutes three minutes later.

Lejuan Simmons put Cougars up 4-3 with four minutes left but then his effort was cancelled out by Thomas Watson's goal with the last kick of the game.

The match was to be decided by penalties and it was Village who held their nerve, scoring each of their four kicks while Chris Caisey and Korvon Tucker both watched as their efforts failed to hit the target for Cougars.

"The match was tricky, there was only one time that I thought it was out of our grasp but our team showed a lot of resolve," said DeGraff.

"As a team we have devoted ourselves to a cause and we had the mentality of winners, and it showed today.

"It feels good to win this, we don't want anyone taking from us that we already have.

"We want to keep what belongs to us and get what we don't quite have yet.

"The league is our main goal but it feels good to win this back to back, and now we have to continue to move forward."

North Village president Shervin Dill added:" I have seen a lot of cup finals but this was truly worthy of the title.

"Both teams brought their best and in the end my hat goes off to both clubs."

Subs not used: Daniels,J.Mouchette,M.Steede

Goals:T.Steede(38),Coddington(90),T.Manders(109),L.Simmons (116)

North Village: J.Williams, K.Dill, S.Fubler (J.Sousa,61), D.Tankard, T.Manders, T.Watson, J.Jennings, S.DeGraff, K.Bean, R.Lee, K.Bean

Subs not used:J.Boyles

Goals:DeGraff (85),J.Lee (90),K.Bean (112), T.Watson(120)

Referee:R.Cann

Man of the Match:T.Watson