Any thoughts Devonshire Cougars' coaching duo Albert and Shawn Smith might have had of their team catapulting into the Dudley Eve Trophy final were promptly dispelled at St. John's Field yesterday where they went down 2-0 to Wolves.

The Martonmere Cup champions displayed few signs of the form that reaped that trophy earlier this season, and the two coaches and their cast will now have to pick up the pieces ahead of Boxing Day's showdown against six-time winners PHC, the most successful team in Dudley Eve history.

Cougars defeated their semi-final opponents 3-1 in league play back in October, on a night that belonged to the dynamic duo of Heys Wolffe and Raymond Beach who were both instrumental in the Zebras' demise. Both, however, were noticeably ineffective during yesterday's action.

"I believe we matched them during the first half, but we lost our momentum and neglected the things that have been working for us in the second period," said Albert Smith afterwards.

"Wolves were the better team on the day and we just have to pick up our game and come prepared for whoever we meet in the semi-final.

"Overall, I am not pleased with the team's performance because I know they can play much better."

Cougars' stalwart defender Shawn Smith felt that his team didn't take advantage of their chances and failed to play anywhere near to their full potential.

"We lacked intensity out there today," he said. "I feel that we did not play all that badly, I thought we still competed for the entire 90 minutes.

"We failed to capitalise on the counter-attack and made far too many indecisive passes, while on the other hand Wolves took full advantage of their opportunities. However, we will take a positive outlook from this match and hopefully we can turn things back around for the next game.

"We just have to stick with our game plan and the players have to be a bit more creative and imaginative and go all-out for the win.

"In terms of the team (selection), we may utilise the option of making a few changes to regain our chemistry, but like I said before it was an even match until they scored their goals and on the day my team lacked the required intensity to put them away."

Meanwhile, Dennis Brown's men may have earned the right to indulge in some rest and relaxation before the final, but the coach's job gets no easier as he now has to contend with the unavailability of defender Sekai Waldron and centre-half, Jermel Simmons, both of whom will sit out the first leg of the two-legged final through suspension after picking up yellow cards in yesterday's fixture.