Devonshire Colts clinched a place in the Dudley Eve tournament over Christmas when goals in each half sealed victory at Southampton Oval yesterday.

Last year's beaten finalists needed to win to qualify and were hanging on to Keishon Smith's 20th minute strike before Mark Ray made certain of victory with the second goal right on full-time.

Inbetween the goals, Hotels missed some good opportunities to threaten Colts' lead as the teams battled for the points in a scrappy match.

Hotels went close after just four minutes when Craig Crichlow had the first chance in the match, shooting just past the far post at the second attempt from inside the box after Hotels broke through.

Colts took the lead midway through the half when a high ball into the box by Jermaine Belboda saw goalkeeper Stefan Dupres call for the ball as he came off his line. However, the ball skimmed off the head of a player as two went up for a header and Smith was left with the simple task of tucking the ball into an empty net at the far post.

Diallo Sharrieff went close with a long range free kick soon after before Colts were forced to make a first half substitution, bringing on Ricky Saltus after 33 minutes for Omar Butterfield who took a knock in the face.

Hotels' game lifted with their first substitution in the 59th minute when Chris Sabir came on to replace Quinton Francis.

Sabir's presence was felt immediately, as he got booked for a foul within a minute of being on the field, before almost laying on the equaliser two minutes later.

The midfielder's cross from the left beat goalkeeper Troy Hall before Marlon Lindsay headed wide of the far post.

Hotels, with Sabir strengthening their midfield, began to apply more pressure but often some good approach work was met with bad finishing. Sabir penetrated the Colts defence again in the 77th minute when, from a free kick on the right side of the penalty area, he curled the ball to the far post. Michael Holdipp did well to head it back across goal before a Colts defender cleared off the line.

Colts struggle From Page 29 Dennis Robinson was booked for a bad tackle on Saltus in the closing minute and Colts reacted by scoring a second goal in the 90th minute to sink Hotels.

A long ball upfield by goalkeeper Troy Hall sent Mark Ray through and with two defenders challenging, he tucked a low shot past Dupres from near the edge of the box.

Hotels: S.Dupres; F. Francis, D.Sharrieff, C.Roberts, W.Augustus, Q.Francis;(C.Sabir 58 mins), M.Holdipp, W.Crockwell, D.Robinson, M.Lindsay, C.Crichlow. Dev.Colts: T.Hall; Jermel Belboda, S.Burgess, V.Ball, D.Wright, J.Samuels (S. Waldron 61 mins), O.Butterfield (R.Saltus 33 mins), M.Ray, K.Smith. Referee: Gary Cook Men of the match: Diallo Sharrieff (Hotels), Jermaine Belboda (Dev.Colts).