Second Division champions Devonshire Cougars were first on the scoresheet but the points stayed at PHC Stadium after the home team showed the difference in standard between the two divisions.

The two teams took the first half adjusting to the heat and feeling each other out. But the moment the visitors broke the deadlock in the 49th minute the match rose to a new level as three goals came in an 18 minute period.

Cougars, unbeaten in the league last season, looked the better of the teams in the first half and shook their hosts by taking the lead just four minutes into the second half.

A ball across the halfway line by Shawn Smith opened the PHC defence to Dapo Frederick to get through on the left side and as goalkeeper Ellsworth Bean advanced Frederick neatly slotted the ball low inside the far post.

The goal jolted the Zebras enough where coach Leroy Lewis quickly had Winston Trott and Gavin Simmons off the bench and warming up. PHC did not allow Cougars to press their advantage, however, and within four minutes they wiped out the lead.

The chance was created with a Dano Outerbridge freekick near the halfway line.

The ball found Shawn Simons inside the penalty box and he stabbed the ball into 'keeper Fred Richardson's left-hand post to mark his return to the Zebras from Southampton Rangers.

An incident which broke the back of the Cougars came in the 56th minute when substitute Jamal Salaam, who only replaced Troy James at the start of the second half, was ejected for a professional foul on the threatening Simons.

Both went for a ball through the middle and Salaam, as he was falling, pulled down Simons with him just as Simons was about to break free some 35 yards from goal.

The foul is one that the BFA and FIFA are keen to stamp out and Salaam feared the worst as referee Frank Drayton reached into his pocket. The worst was confirmed when out came the red card, leaving Cougars one man short and PHC about to capitalise.

Cougars quickly made their second substitution, bringing on new signing Marlon Lindsay for Devon Brangman but it was PHC who found the net again in the 67th minute as, during a period of dominance, their experience began to show.

Blenn Bean, who was a major threat in a new left-sided midfield role, laid on the second goal when he received a long ball from another Outerbridge freekick and fed Dave Wolffe inside the box as Wolffe beat Richardson from close range.

Outerbridge went close with a firmly struck 35-yard effort in the 80th minute before PHC put the points in the bag with a third goal two minutes later. Sub Winston Trott looked to be standing behind the Cougars defence as a ball was knocked forward for him. But when the flag stayed down the winger raced through to score a well taken goal as Cougars were rocked further.

A fourth almost came in the closing minutes when an Outerbridge freekick on the right side found Wolffe unmarked at the far post and his diving header hit the 'keeper's hand before coming back off the underside of the crossbar.

PHC: E.Bean; M.Wade, M.Dill, D.Outerbridge, A.Stovell; O.Steede, M.Trott (G.Simmons 64 min), B.Bean; S.Simons, D.Wolffe, R.Lightbourne (W.Trott 67 min).

Dev.Cougars: F.Richardson; C.Azhar, S.Smith, D.Durrant, T.James (J.Salaam 45min); W.Salaam, S.Coddington, D.Russell; D.Frederick, M.Dill, D.Brangman (M.Lindsay 57min).

Referee: Frank Drayton Men of match: Blenn Bean (PHC), Stephen Coddington (Cougars).