Hamilton Parish 0 Devonshire Cougars 5

Devonshire Cougars bounced back emphatically, defeating Hamilton Parish 5-0 at Wellington Oval yesterday.

Jayori Fox led the charge for the visitors with a brace, while Che’Kai Caisey, Jazario Brimmer, and substitute Chae Brangman also got on the scoresheet. The result marked a resounding recovery for the Cougars, who suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat to North Village in their previous outing.

Kwame Steede, Cougars’ coach and club president, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s response.

“A great performance. I think there’s a different energy within the team, and it showed today,” Steede said. “It was a team effort that was key to the victory — team harmony, team performance, and the willingness to do the dirty work. That’s the key.”

Striker Kamali Davis was instrumental, delivering four assists in a commanding display that continually tormented the Hot Peppers’ defence.

“Kamali had a great game, as did Llineiko Millett. We had some outstanding performances, but Kamali really showed up today,” Steede added. “Four assists — there aren’t many players who are that unselfish.”

Steede said the dominant result was in line with his expectations.

“We came from down the bottom and are fighting our way out,” he said. “We’re trying to climb. Coming off a 6-1 loss, you have to put in more work, and the work they’ve put in is what they’re getting out.”

Cougars impressed despite being without key players, including Domico Coddington and Elisha Darrell.

“That’s what it’s about — the team has to step up when someone is unavailable,” Steede said. “We know we’re in a bad position, so we’re showing character. It’s early in the season, so hopefully, we can build on this.”

Steede was particularly pleased with Brangman’s return from an Achilles injury sustained early last season. The substitute made an immediate impact with a clinical finish to round off the scoring.

“He went out last season with four goals in two games and comes back now with one in three touches. It shows you his mentality,” Steede said.

The Cougars started brightly, with Parish goalkeeper Nigel Burgess rushing off his line to deny Davis after a defence-splitting pass from Fox. However, the visitors soon broke the deadlock when Davis drew multiple defenders before laying off to an unmarked Caisey, who calmly slotted into the far bottom corner.

Parish responded with efforts from striker Macquille Walker, who dragged one shot wide and struck the post with another.

Just before half-time, Cougars doubled their lead through Brimmer. Davis collected Caisey’s throw-in and whipped in a cross, which Burgess could only parry onto Brimmer’s body, sending the ball across the line.

Fox extended the advantage just past the hour mark, tapping in Davis’s cross at the back post. He added his second shortly after, drilling home in a goalmouth scramble following a Zari Simmons free kick that struck the post.

Brangman sealed the victory near the final whistle, latching onto Davis’s pass, dribbling a few yards, and finishing clinically from a tight angle.

The dominant display ensured Cougars’ league campaign is back on track, leaving Steede optimistic for the matches ahead.

SCORERS

Devonshire Cougars: Caisey 11, Brimmer 44, Fox 65, 76, Brangman (sub) 88

TEAMS

Hamilton Parish (4-2-3-1): N Burgess 4 – J Outerbridge 4, Y Ibaraguen Ramirez 4, M Hill 4, J Bean 4- Z Burgess 4, Q Outerbridge 4 (sub: S McKittrick, 66min 5) – K Knights 5 (sub: C Binnie, 66 5), J Bell 6, G Burgess 6 – M Walker 6. Booked: Z Burgess, Ibaraguen Ramirez

Devonshire Cougars (4-1-4-1): Q Darrell 8 – J Thomas 7, L Millett 7, Zeko White 7, Zekiro White 7 (sub: O Smith, 80) – Z Simmons 7 (sub: C Brangman, 80) – M Thomas 7, J Fox 8 (sub: L Thomas, 80), C Caisey 7 (sub: S Burrows, 68 7), J Brimmer 7 (sub: C Burns, 68 7) – K Davis 8. Substitutes not used: D Simmons, D Daniels.

Referee: N Okeito (Jamaica)