Cougars' chances of beating the drop a massive boost at Devonshire Rec last night.

Salaam was one of three players who looked to be in offside positions as the ball was played through the Colts defence but he kept his nerve to slip it low past advancing keeper Troy Hall.

Hall, in fact, kept going as the ball settled in the right hand corner of his net, racing all the way to the half way line to remonstrate with referee Esten Curtis.

But Curtis allowed the goal to stand after a brief consultation with his assistant.

Fortunate though the goal may have been, Cougars deserved the three points against a Colts side with little to play for in the league and with an FA Cup final appearance on their minds.

The win lifted them two points above Somerset, who play Vasco, unbeaten in 23 games, tonight, and Hotels who take on Boulevard, who they have beaten twice this season, tomorrow.

And it left PHC rooted to the bottom three points behind the other clubs in the relegation dogfight and facing a tough outing against Dandy Town tomorrow.

The ever rumbustious Salaam was at the centre of many of the promising attacks mounted by Cougars and with a kinder run of the ball might have made the victory more telling.

Moments after giving his side the lead he was almost put clear after good work by Aljame Zuill. And six minutes later, Jermaine Belboda's volleyed back-pass was within inches of falling at his feet.

Ironically, Colts had started the brighter of the two teams and they almost took the lead in the 20th minute. Willis Ming's cross from the right was the culmination of a patient build up and when Keishon Smith, playing in a withdrawn central midfield role, saw his shot blocked, striker Tito Smith tried a clever flick which goalkeeper Tori Henry did well to stop with his foot.

Cougars should have added to their lead in the second half with Zuill missing good opportunities from Stephen Coddington's pinpoint cross and Salaam's free kick from the right.

At the other end the lively Tito Smith seemed the likeliest player to force an equaliser, his neat turn past Juan Thomas leading to a fierce rising shot which Henry turned over the bar. From the resulting corner Smith hit a shot against the post.

Cougars were forced to play the last five minutes with ten men after substitute Mark Smith was shown the red card for kicking at Makonnen Hollis's ankles after losing out to him in a battle for the ball.