North Village 0 Devonshire Cougars 1

Devonshire Cougarsthrew the Premier Division wide open with a narrow victory over league leaders North Village in an entertaining encounter at Bernard Park on Sunday.

Chae Brangman scored the only goal of the game, blasting into the roof of the net in the 86th minute to seal three points for Cougars and delight coach Kwame Steede.

“This has been coming for the past few weeks,” Steede said.

“Our performances have always been there but we never sealed up and put our chances away. Today we did that and defended well with Chae scoring the all-important goal to secure the vital points.”

The match kicked off late after one of the officials failed to arrive and to avoid a postponement, veteran former Fifa assistant referee Anthony Mouchette filled in to get the game started until he was replaced at half-time.

The game began with both teams displaying attacking intent but Cougars had the first chance of the game when Chemari Burns hit a hard, low drive across the goalmouth which eluded the outstretched foot of the charging Brangman.

At the other end, Village striker Jai Bean was given room to shoot but blasted over the top from a good position.

Each team had a golden opportunity to score just before half time. Jonté Smith met Terryn Fray’s chip over the top with a firm header but Cougars goalkeeper Q’Shai Darrell was well positioned to cradle the ball into his chest.

Shortly after, Jazario Brimmer made a darting run down the left flank with Village goalkeeper Detre Bell fumbling his cross but Burns could only volley into the side netting from a tight angle.

The second half started with each team upping the tempo in search of the crucial first goal. Village dispossessed Cougars deep into their territory but Smith rushed his shot and the ball sailed over the top.

Brangman should have then opened the scoring but was guilty of a glaring miss when Bell parried Mikel Thomas’s cross into his path only for the striker to slam over the top from six yards out with the goalkeeper grounded and the goal at his mercy.

However, Brangman would have the last laugh. With the match heading for a draw, Cougars substitute Simeon Burrows received the ball from a throw-in before slipping a pass to Brangman. The burly striker held off his marker to dribble inside the box before unleashing a drive into the roof of the net from eight yards out, leaving Bell helpless.

With the win, Cougars move nine points clear of the relegation zone with four matches remaining. North Village remain top on 28 points but Dandy Town have a game in hand and are now just two points behind.

SCORERS

Devonshire Cougars: Brangman 86

TEAMS

North Village (4-2-3-1): D Bell 6 — K Harrison 5, T Fray 6, J Basden 5, L Evans 6 — S Spence 5, J Chapman 5 (sub: Z Jennings-Barnett, 88min) — T Ming 5 (sub: T Manders, 65 5), J Bean 6, L Steede 5 (sub:I Simmons, 72) — J Smith 6. Substitutes not used: J Harward, R Sampson, T Harris.

Devonshire Cougars (4-2-3-1): Q Darrell 7 — J Thomas 6, Z White 6, L Millett 6, C Caisey 5 — M Thomas 6, D Daniels 5 (sub: Z Simmons, 90) — J Brimmer 5 (sub: S Burrows, 71), D Coddington 6, C Burns 5 (sub: K Davis, 46 6) — C Brangman 7. Substitutes not used: S Jones, J Wade, N Simmons. Booked: Caisey.

Referee: M Wyer.