Paget Lions 1 Devonshire Cougars 4

Kamali Davis came back to haunt his former team as he scored two goals, including one from the penalty spot, to lead Devonshire Cougars to an easy victory over Paget Lions at Southampton Oval on Saturday.

Cougars started off on the front foot, with Llineiko Millett feeding Machi Battersbee, who fired an effort just wide of the far post with Lions goalkeeper Jade Morrissey rooted to his goalline.

Their control would continue as Paget failed to cope with their opponents’ high press and fluid passing game throughout the first half. The away side opened the scoring in the nineteenth minute after a neat piece of play on the left flank. Full back Jecoa Thomas fed winger Elisha Darrell, who skipped past Paget defender Jaavaid Warren-Smith and squared for opposite winger Jayori Fox to calmly sidefoot into the net that Morrissey vacated.

Paget had few spells of possession in the first half and created their best clear-cut opportunity when skipper Diaje Hart fired a solid low strike toward the far corner, but Cougars keeper Q’Shai Darrell was equal to it, pushing the curling effort around his left post. Cougars had one more notable opportunity in the first half to extend their advantage, but Jazario Brimmer hit the post from about 20 yards out.

Just one goal down at half-time, Paget may have felt that that were capable of still achieving a positive result and illustrated theit intent with the introductions of Shakir Smith and Kushae Hypolite, although physical forward Omari Tucker was taken off after taking the high boot of Cougars defender Zeko White to his head a few minutes earlier.

However, Cougars made it two within ten minutes of the second half as Zari Simmons fed Machi Battersbee, who slipped his finish underneath the keeper.

Paget pulled a goal back after an hour when they punished Cougars for losing the ball as they played out from the back. Delray Rawlins stole the ball from Simmons just inside the attacking half and Nelson Carpenter seized the loose ball and curled a strike into the far corner with his weaker foot.

Paget’s tails were up, but Cougars did well to keep their shape and limit the home side to difficult strikes and aimless crosses from either flank. They restored their two-goal cushion in the 73rd minute when substitute Jasekani Furbert-Wade played a cute ball forward for Fox, who was taken down by Lions centre back Julian Carpenter inside the area. Davis stepped up, gave Morrissey a quick fake, then rolled the finish into the middle of the net.

Kamau Leverock, fresh from his debut in the Legends League Cricket tournament in India, then came on as an additional attacking dimension for Lions but failed to make a huge impact.

Cougars completed the win by punishing the space left by Paget’s attempt to push players forward and Furbert-Wade played a beautiful switch to substitute Mosiais Mills, who composed himself to feed Davis, who gave Morrissey the dreaded eyes and finished through his legs.

Cougars head coach Kwame Steede was pleased with his side’s dominance.

“We controlled the game for long periods,” he said. "Paget were always going to up the intensity after they scored. We weathered the storm quite well and scored two more goals after that period.“

SCORERS

Paget Lions: Carpenter 60

Devonshire Cougars: Fox 19, Davis 73, 90+4, Battersbee 52

TEAMS

Paget Lions (4-2-3-1): J Morrissey 6 – K Simons 5 (sub: J Warren-Smith, 17min 5), J Carpenter 5 (sub: D Joell, 89), K Durrant 5 (sub: K Leverock, 77), D Cook 6 – T Davis 6, D Swan 5 (sub: S Smith, 46 5) – N Carpenter 6, D Hart 6, O Tucker 5 (sub: K Hypolite, 46 6) – D Rawlins 5. Substitutes not used: J Tucker, O Deshields.

Devonshire Cougars (4-3-3): Q Darrell 6 – C Caisey 6 (sub: O Smith, 64 5), Zeko White 5, L Millett 6 (sub: N Carmichael, 55 5), J Thomas 6 – Z Simmons 6, M Battersbee 6 (sub: J Furbert-Wade, 55 6), J Brimmer 6 – K Davis 7, E Darrell 6 (sub: M Mills, 83), J Fox 6. Substitutes not used: S Jones, C Brangman. Booked: Q Darrell.

Referee: S Wilkinson (St Kitts & Nevis)