Dev.Colts 3 North Village 1 It is said that `He who laughs last, laughs loudest', and yesterday, as the setting sun spread its radiant, orange glow, the joyful bellow reverberating among National Stadium fittingly belonged to Devonshire Colts.

The cheers were as much relief as jubilation, as Colts finally reaped championship reward in the most glamourous competition of all, the FA Challenge Cup.

After three failed trips to the title threshold this season Colts discarded the bridesmaid tag with a comprehensive 3-1 defeat of defending champions North Village in a match that featured three sendings-off before an estimated crowd of more than 2,000.

"The last five seasons we've won trophies. This year we cut it close, waiting until the last game, but it's just as sweet as winning the first game,'' said Colts' captain and defensive rock Shannon Burgess. "These guys worked hard for this.

"We've had a rough season, starting off slow and not being able to realise a lot of our dreams by the half-way mark. Then coming to the second half of the season, and reaching the final of the Dudley Eve, we felt we were in position to win the league, knowing we yet had to play the teams above us and not being that far behind.

"It came down to the second last game and it was disappointing for us not to succeed in winning the league, so we had to take time out to focus for the FA Cup final, and I think the guys rebounded well.'' Three goals in the second half from Clevon Hill, Marvin Belboda and Keenan Burchall finally afforded Colts the honour of holding the trophy for the second time in three years, while avoiding the ignominy of losing three finals in one season and becoming the first club to lose 10 FA finals.

Colts dominated much of the affair against the favoured Red Devils, who were without key defender Kentoine Jennings, especially after being given a man advantage after just 24 minutes when referee Stuart Crockwell red-carded goalkeeper Nyon Steede for deliberately handling outside the penalty area.

The first half was largely nondescript, with Village unable to get a shot on target until the 42nd-minute affair, while Colts were equally inept among the top third.

Conversely the second half immediately exploded into life, as first Village came close, with Jamaul Boyles' deft chip from the edge of the area dropping inches over the crossbar, and Kevin Jennings rattling the framework moments later.

Colts went one better, taking the lead in the 47th minute through Hill, as he rifled a shot past stand-in 'keeper Neil Robinson following a right-wing cross from Burchall.

Village stormed back, as Dwight Warren and Keith Jennings each tested the mettle of Colts' defence without success and Village again were made to pay a supreme price for the failures.

Colts' head coach Ray Jones' move to insert Belboda in the 59th minute proved ingenious, as the forward had the ball in the back of the net mere seconds following his entry onto the pitch. A hard, low cross by Jermaine Belboda from near the right corner flag inexplicably went untouched across the goal-mouth, leaving Belboda a simple tap-in.

However, just as the Village death march began to reach full throng the procession was abruptly cut 74 minutes on as Tafari Outerbridge pulled a goal back from the penalty spot, after Colts' goalie Kevin Bean steam-rolled substitute Tarik Jennings.

Continued on page 31 Colts get their cup Continued from page 29 Tarik Jennings would soon find himself on the receiving end of the officiating, being sent off for violent conduct toward Jermel Belboda. Belboda was also sent packing after receiving a second yellow card.

All was laid to rest when Burchall popped up to slide home a Lloyd Holder centre three minutes from time, triggering rich celebration on the bench and among the packed stands.

Thus Colts, despite falling short in the league, Dudley Eve Trophy and Martonmere Cup, were able to climax the year in style, something Burgess hoped would aid them in preparations for next year.

"This is a big game. Last year was probably our most successful season with this group of guys, winning three trophies,'' said Burgess. "But we lost the FA Cup final and to lose a cup final the last game of the season and to have all summer to think about it ... I'd rather win this one.

"So, I'll take my one and we're going to enjoy it this summer.'' Village coach Scott Morton, showing grace and style in defeat, gave great credit to his side's opponents, admitting the better team on the day had won.

"When you have 10 men on the field you have to recognise certain things you have to do and we didn't do the necessary things consistently and it led to a lot of gaping holes in our defence,'' said Morton, completing his first year as a head coach. "To Colts' credit, when a team's in that position you have to take advantage of those lapses and that's exactly what they did.

"But our heads are held high. My players can still feel proud to get what we did, because we did accomplish a great deal. You have to realise that certain teams are going to dominate at certain times and you're not going to win them all.

"I feel we were still in the game when Nyon got sent off, we just needed to regroup and come out a bit more focused and determined in regard to what we had to do when we were a man down.

"We made it into the second half even and I basically told them to remain composed, keep possession and the pressure would still be on Colts. Because I felt that during the period that we were a man down Colts were frustrated at not being able to dictate the game as they would have wanted.

"But we didn't remain focused and that's what happens ... Colts came out on top.'' Devonshire Colts: K.Bean; K.Simpson, M.Bean, S.Burgess, Jermel Belboda; J.Samuels, K.Burchall, Jermaine Belboda; C.Hill L.Holder 75 mins), A.Zuill (D.Zuill 86 mins), Q.Aberdeen (M.Belboda 58 mins).

North Village: N.Steede; J.Thomas, K.Dill (T.Jennings 67 mins), K.Binns, R.Spence; J.Boyles (T.Outerbridge 62 mins), M.Hansey, Keith Jennings; Kevin Jennings, D. Warren, N.Robinson.

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.

Men of the Match: Yellow cards: Jermel Belboda, Kevin Simpson (Devonshire Colts); Randy Spence (North Village).

Red cards: Jermel Belboda (Devonshire Colts); Nyon Steede, Tarik Jennings (North Village).