A lone goal by Craig Smith late in the second half was enough to give Devonshire Colts the victory yesterday over St. David's at Lord's.

While Smith is reknowned for his blistering left-footed shots, it was in fact a very weak shot from the striker that bobbled out of the hands of the goalkeeper George O'Brien and rolled across the goal-line into the net.

The home team started the match with great promise as they displayed more energy and desire in chasing every ball and forced the Colts into a defensive mode almost right from the opening whistle.

But for erratic shooting and hasty passes by their front line, St. David's might have taken an early lead. After ten minutes of fairly disorganised play by both teams, the home field advantage looked to be coming into play when Jerry Laws rose beautifully to a perfect cross from Patrick White. With an unchallenged header almost on the six-yard line the striker was hasty with his effort and sent the ball well high of the target.

Having survived this early scare Colts tightened up defensively and brought their offence more into the game. After a fine midfield build-up between Derek Wright and Harrison Trott the ball fell to Smith just outside the St.David's penalty area but he raced his shot and screwed the ball two feet wide of the upright. Trott himself had an opportunity next with a glancing header that also went wide, causing no concern for O'Brien.

As the first half wore on the Colts' First Division experience began to show as they began to dominate the midfield through the tireless running of Trott and Quincey Aberdeen. The home team were forced to make several hasty clearances that more often than not fell right to their opponents who moved right on to the attack again. Smith had a golden opportunity to open the scoring shortly before the half when he was well placed near the penalty spot.

In his haste though to avoid a tackle he miskicked the ball and sent it wide of the goal.

Despite these close calls St. David's were never out of this match and in fact could have taken the lead only seconds before the half-time whistle. A fine right-wing run by Del Hollis saw the ball flighted to the far post where it was met by Maxwell Dill. The ex-Devonshire Cougars player rose well to head the ball but it flew directly onto the corner of the crossbar and the upright and rebounded away from the goal.

St. David's opened the second half in the same way they closed the first! Lanky Dale Fox outstripped his Colts defender with a clear run at goal but his shot was sent well wide of the net. Laws followed on his heels with an effort but it too flew wide of the target.

It was at this point though that the Colts came alive and created the best scoring opportunity to that point. A cross from Joseph Weeks on the right flank found Mark Ray inside the St. David's penalty area. Ray did not hesitate as he sent his first-time shot screaming at the goal. O'Brien however proved his worth with a superb reflex save that saw him tip the ball over the crossbar for a corner.

It was on the heels of this chance that the Colts finally scored. Smith's weakly taken shot from the edge of the penalty area looked to be no threat to O'Brien but strangely the 'keeper dove onto the ball and had it bounce out of his grasp and over the line for the winning and only goal of the match.

St.David's: G.O'Brien, D.Fox (T.Winkleman, 70 mins), S.Pitcher, E.Smith, C.Richardson, S.Smith, B.Andrews, P.White (C.Furbert, 75 mins), M.Dill, J.Laws, D.Hollis.

Devonshire Colts: A.Hendrickson, A.Wilson, K.Burchall, M.Ray, C.Wright, H.Trott, D.Wright, C.Smith, Q.Aberdeen, J.Weeks (L.Symonds, 52 mins), G.Smith (K.Smith, 78 mins).

Referee: Lawrence DeShields.

Men of the match: George O'Brien (St.David's); Craig Smith (Devonshire Colts).

CRAIG SMITH -- Winner put Colts level on five points with leaders Somerset.