Wolves 2 Dev.Cougars 2

After tax-men, estate agents and, dare we say it, journalists, come referees on the list of people the public love to hate.

However, had it not been for Lyndon Raynor and able assistants Earlston Wolffe and Cal Simons yesterday, those who turned up to watch Wolves and Cougars would have had a strong case for asking for their admission fee back.

So poor was the fare on offer that listening to the strains of the BAA drummer became almost pleasurable.

It was only when Raynor and co. decided to liven up affairs by disallowing a goal for each side and awarding two penalties that the entertainment level passed the three out of 10 mark.

Things had started off brightly, Cougars going 1-0 up through Mark Smith after 15 minutes.

However, those who thought they were in for a thriller were sadly mistaken as the Devonshire side failed to consolidate their lead.

As the standard of play dropped, so talk on the sidelines turned to the US war on terrorism, Saturday night's Christmas party and Manchester United's fall from grace.

Thankfully Simons jolted the assembled back to life when he played a pivotal role in denying Wolves the lead in the 37th minute.

Jared Peniston had the ball in the back of the net but as soon as the indirect free kick that led to the goal was taken, Simons flagged for offside.

Play continued as Raynor had failed to make eye contact with his assistant and Peniston wheeled away in celebration only for his joy to be cut short when the man in black signalled for a free kick after holding a two minute consultation with Simons. After that little bit of excitement the half petered out to nothing.

The second period again started promisingly, Wolves, no doubt with Dennis Brown's interval team talk still ringing in their ears, grabbing a 56th minute equaliser through Sakai Waldron.

But then the game deteriorated once more, play ebbing and flowing without any real purpose and it was not until 10 minutes before the end that anything of note occurred.

Cory Smith pulled back Waldron as he made a surging run into the box and Raynor pointed to the spot without hesitation.

The official upset Wolves coach Dennis Brown by not dismissing the offender, but as other defenders were racing to the scene, Smith was not the last man and a penalty was punishment enough.

Vince Minors coolly slotted to Ricardo Brangman's left and it looked as if Wolves were on their way to three points.

However, thanks to a desperate lunge and Raynor's whistle that was not to be.

With four minutes to go Heys Wolffe was felled in the area and the referee gave Cougars a chance to grab a share of the spoils.

The lanky Smith, inconspicuous throughout much of the proceedings despite his size, sent the 'keeper the wrong way, slamming the ball hard and low into the net.

With just seconds to go Wolffe thought he had scored his second, but fittingly the officials had the last say, Raynor disallowing the strike after Simons had flagged for offside.

Wolves: C.Durrant, T.Trott, S.Waldron, J.Simmons, J.Douglas (P.Sampson, 73 mins), K.Parfitt, J.Peniston, V.Minors, N.Smith, A.Thomas, L.Ming (A.Webb, 64 mins).

Cougars: R.Brangman, D.Brangman, C.Smith, G.Butterfield, Maxwell Dill, M.Smith, D.Eve, K.Goddard (K.Smith, 73 mins), Mike Dill (A.Minors, 73 mins), R.Beach, H.Wolffe.

Booked: N.Smith (Wolves); M.Dill, K.Smith (Cougars).

Men of the match: J.Peniston (Wolves); H.Wolffe (Cougars).

Referee: L.Raynor.

l In women's action earlier, Rude Girls' Chevonne Furbert bagged all four goals as her team trounced Wolves Girls 4-0.