A late goal by substitute Marvin Belboda gave Devonshire Colts a winning start in the Dudley Eve Trophy at Devonshire Rec. last night.

Colts were made to sweat it out in a game that they could have put out of PHC's reach during the early stages but for wasted chances by midfielder Aljamie Zuill.

With the scores deadlocked after 76 minutes and match-deciding penalty kicks seemingly inevitable, Belboda, who replaced Ricky Saltus after 58 minutes, combined with Keimon Lawrence to settle the issue.

The decisive goal came during a counter attack, Lawrence supplying Belboda with the pass for him to finish from close range.

But Colts made hard work of it considering they were in position to kill off PHC's spirits during the first 18 minutes.

Colts got a wake-up call early on when Otis Steede, PHC's hard working midfielder, sent a thunderous shot from 19 yards that sailed only inches over the bar after just three minutes.

And they had another scare when PHC striker Duval Wilson followed this up with another fine effort, forcing Troy Hall in the Colts goal to pull down his drive from 16 yards.

The unsettled Colts were allowed to come back into the came when centre-back Roderick Lewis handled a cross from Quincy Aberdeen and captain Shannon Burgess put them ahead 1-0 from the resulting penalty in the 10th minute.

Inspired by the goal, Colts came into the game with more and more momentum, pinning back the Zebras' defence for long periods.

But it proved to be a night of agony for Zuill who blew two easy scoring chances within a span of six minutes, denying Colts from taking a deserved lead.

After 12 minutes when Zuill was put through on a breakaway he allowed the advancing PHC goalkeeper John Durrant to dive and block his shot from close in.

But an even more agonising miss followed after 18 minutes when hard-working midfielder Damon Ming put Zuill through only to see the lanky player shoot wide from 12 yards.

If Colts had luck on their side with the opening goal, so did PHC with their 27th-minute equaliser.

It also came from the penalty spot, awarded by referee Stuart Crockwell after centre-back Nathan Samuels had pulled down Duval Wilson. Kevin Richards stroked home to draw the teams level.

PHC then came back into the game with a vengeance and were unlucky not to take the lead after 35 minutes when a blast by Richards from 16 yards was sensationally tipped over by Hall.

Colts were rejuvenated in the second half and after 57 minutes almost scored a second when Ricky Saltus's blast from 13 yards was tipped around the post by Durrant for a corner.

Belboda's appearance livened up the Colts attack and the substitute blew a chance after 74 minutes when his hurried shot from 14 yards drifted wide of the far post.

As if that didn't hurt the team enough, Lawrence followed this up with another missed opportunity from 15 yards.

But after 76 minutes the pair made amends for their miscues by teaming up to deliver the goal that clinched victory.

PHC had enough fight to keep Colts' defence on the alert during the final five minutes though, Hall jumping to pull down Steede's free kick from 19 yards and smothering McLee Smith's 16-yard drive into his chest.

And Zuill finished the game off still unlucky when his header hit the bar.

Colts: T.Hall; J.Belboda, S.Burgess, N.Samuels, J.Simmons; D.Ming, T.Smith, A.Zuill; Q.Aberdeen, K.Lawrence (J.Laws, 80 min), R.Saltus (M.Belboda, 58 min).

PHC: J.Durrant; S.Simmons (D.Francis, 29 min), D.Outerbridge, R.Lewis, C.Dowling; E.Dowling (A.Washington, 60 min), O.Steede, S.Lewis; K.Richards, D.Wilson (T.Darrell, 65 min), M.Smith.

Referee: Stuart Crockwell Men of the match: Damon Ming (Colts); Kevin Richards (PHC) Yellow cards: K.Richards (PHC); R.Saltus (Colts)