Devonshire Cougars 1 Paget Lions 2

Paget Lions left Devonshire Rec victorious after a 2-1 win over Devonshire Cougars last night.

Bakari Furbert and substitute Dion Stovell secured the three points, warming coach Antwan Russell’s heart on a cold and windy evening.

“I told my guys that coming down here to play was not going to be easy,” said Russell. “Cougars have experienced players who can hurt you at any time, so we had to be at the top of our game. We fought a tough battle throughout, and I am happy for my team.”

Paget started as the hungrier of the teams in slippery conditions and took a deserved lead in the ninth minute. Striker Omari Tucker played a well-weighted pass for captain Diage Hart, who ran on to it and hit a first-time shot.

Cougars stand-in goalkeeper Chemari Burns deflected the effort with his foot, but the ball fell to the onrushing Furbert, who easily side-footed into the open net.

Cougars eventually settled into the game with some meaningful passes and nearly equalised just before the interval. But Paget goalkeeper Jade Morrissey pulled off a brilliant diving save to deny Makai Thomas’s firm driver from outside the box, preserving Paget’s one-goal advantage at the break.

Cougars showed intent after the restart, with Che’Kai Caisey making a threatening run down the left flank, but his firm cross flashed across the goalmouth. Their pressure paid off when Dominic Coddington made a darting run, only for Shakir Smith to bring him down from behind. Smith received a second yellow card, leaving Paget to play the final 30 minutes with ten men.

Cougars, however, failed to capitalise, and just four minutes later, Caisey committed a dangerous tackle on Kyjah Simons and was also sent off, ensuring the rest of the game was played out with ten men apiece.

Paget doubled their lead in the 68th minute when a long free kick hit the crossbar and bounced back into play. Burns was left stranded as substitute Stovell beat him to the rebound and tapped the ball into the net.

The diminutive Coddington continued to be a menace and gave Cougars hope when he dribbled into the box before being brought down by Simons, prompting referee Anthony Francis to award a penalty. Substitute Chae Brangman confidently fired the spot-kick to the right of a diving Morrissey, cutting the deficit to one.

Despite Cougars’ late push for an equaliser, Paget’s resolute defence held firm, securing the win and three valuable points.

The victory lifts Paget above St George’s into the top half of the standings.

SCORERS

Devonshire Cougars: Brangman 70 pen

Paget Lions: Furbert 9, Stovell 68

TEAMS

Devonshire Cougars (4-2-3-1): C Burns 6 — M Paynter 5, Z White 6, L Millett 6, J Thomas 5 (sub: N Simmons, 80) — Z Simmons 6, M Thomas 5 (sub: D Daniels, 66 5) — E Darrell 5 (sub: L Simmons, 66 6), D Coddington 7, C Caisey 5 — K Davis 5 (sub: C Brangman, 46 6). Substitutes not used: J Wade, C Brangman. Sent off: Caisey.

Paget Lions (4-2-3-1): J Morrissey 6 — N Carpenter 6, J Carpenter 6, R DeShields 6, K Simons 6 — T Davis 5 (sub: K Durrant, 75), J Stovel 5 — S Smith 5, D Hart 6, B Furbert 7 — O Tucker 6 (sub: D Stovell, 54 7). Substitutes not used: Booked: DeShields, Smith. Sent off: Smith.

Referee: A Francis.