Somerset Eagles 1

Devonshire Cougars 4

Somerset Eagles learned a valuable lesson at BAA Field yesterday. Never disturb a sleeping Cougar.

Two superbly taken goals by Raymond Beach and additional strikes from the relentless Kwame Steede and Shawn Smith saw Cougars bring high flying Eagles crashing back down to earth.

The result not only eliminated idle Dandy Town, but also catapulted Cougars over Eagles - who despite the loss still advanced into the semi-finals - to seize Group B honours.

In fact, Cougars accounted for all the goals scored as their opponents were given an early lead via an own goal.

Beach, who netted his second of the match in the dying moments, finally breathed a huge sigh of relief when all was said and done.

It was his last-minute strike which sealed the deal and ensured the 2001/02 champions avoided North Village in the semi-finals. Had he missed, both teams would have had to settle the issue from the penalty spot after being deadlocked with an identical goal averages.

"Today was a hard game for us," said Beach afterwards. "Eagles came out and fought hard from the start. They protected the ball well and so it was hard for us to break down their play. But at the end of the day we did a little bit more."

Beach was even more pleased to have finally opened his account for the season - especially his group-clinching strike at the death.

"I was well aware of that (goal)," he said. "And it was a very good way to finish the match."

That was perhaps somewhat of an understatement as before Cougars could even sharpen their claws, they found themselves a goal down.

What initially appeared to be a harmless Gladwin Hill cross from the left took a wicked deflection off a defender and floated over the head of `keeper Ricardo Brangman, standing of his line, and nestled into the back of the net.

However, Cougars stormed back and within eight minutes equalised through Beach, left with the simplest of tasks to tap home Heys Wolfe's low cross from the right.

Though jolted from Cougars' strike, Eagles almost regained the lead in the 35th minute. But it proved to be a false alarm as a defender cleared a goalbound ball off the line.

Cougars came out all guns ablaze in the second half and after a series of near misses finally grasped the lead for good in the 55th minute when a well flighted Wolfe corner kick was powerfully met at the back post by Shawn Smith who planted his shot into the back of the net.

If that goal wasn't enough to clip Eagles' wings, the senseless sending off of substitute Rodre (Piper) Wilson might have.

Wilson, on the field for less than five minutes, received two yellow cards and was sent packing in the 59th minute after sticking his boot out to a Brangman drop kick. This left Eagles one man short and Cougars made them pay dearly.

Flirting with disaster deep in his own half, Eagles substitute Sean Dill was dispossessed by Kwame Steede who took a quick look at goal and then smashed the ball home from eight yards.

From here, Cougars simply had things all their way and for long periods threatened to make things very ugly for a now wounded Eagles side.

However, it was Eagles who almost scored against the run of play when substitute Darren Dowling evaded the Cougars defence and then beautifully rounded Brangman only to steer his low shot wide of the empty goal.

And that miss ultimately proved costly as Beach took matters into his own hands seconds from the end to send his team clear at the summit.

Somerset Eagles: A.Burrows, J.Tucker, M.Hunt, D.Burgess, K.Simmons, G.Hill (S.Dill, 56 mins), S.Worrell (D.Dowling, 68 mins), J.Butterfield, M.Butterfield, L.Crofton, S.Dread (R.Wilson, 56 mins).

Devonshire Cougars: R.Brangman, S.Smith, O.Butterfield, J.DeShields, D.Eve (L.Tota, 60 mins), K.Steede, J.Salaam (A.Minors, 65 mins), K.Goddard, D.Coddington, H.Wolfe (M.Steede, 84 mins), R.Beach.

Sent off: R.Wilson (Eagles); Booked: D.Eve (Cougars).

Men of the match: M.Hunt (Eagles); R.Beach (Cougars).

Referee: Leroy Wilson.