Goals from Darius Cox and Mark Smith ensured that Devonshire Cougars will go into the Christmas break top of the charts courtesy of their 2-1 victory over North Village at Bernard Park yesterday.

With a spot in the Dudley Eve already secured heading into the last match before the break, the men from the 'Den' were looking to put themselves in pole position for league honours, knowing a slip up by leaders Boulevard would see them go top.

With the return of Domico Coddington back to their lineup, they seemed a totally different outfit with the mercurial winger causing all sorts of fits to the Rams back four. Cox struck before fans could get to their seats, hitting a screaming free kick into the 'keeper Calvin Augustus net to make it 1-0 in the third minute from some 25 yards out.

The tempo of the match was never with the hosts, who were left chasing balls and shooting from long range with an organised Cougars back line maintaining good structure throughout the match.

Yet they had a way back into the match in the 42nd minute, only for skipper Ralph Bean Jr. to put his header over the bar .

Things then got worse for the Rams when Robert Wilson bought Coddington down in the box after a reckless tackle on the stroke of half time.

Coddington collected the ball on the left flank, and after weaseling his way past a handful of defenders was bought down by Wilson, leaving referee Anthony Francis no choice but to point to the spot. Smith calmly stepped up and slammed his spot kick down the middle for a 2-0 lead at the break.

For much of the second half it was the same story as the visitors dominated proceedings, pegging Village for long periods of the match in their own half.

Substitute Vincent Minors Jr. breathed life back into the Rams in the 76th minute, courtesy of a superb bicycle kick from the top of the area that flew into the back of the net.

But as Village went searching for the all-important equaliser, Cougars were counter attacking with venom, and had Augustus not been on top of his game the match could have gotten much uglier for his side.

Smith played one-twos with skipper Kwame Steede through the centre of the park with the final landing graciously to the feet of Lamont Brangman who bought out a fine save from Augustus in the closing moments.

And as the match reached its finale, whispers of former Cougars striker Raymond Beach sinking Blazers could be heard to the approval of the traveling fans, who saw their side go top for the first time this year.

After the match, Steede was a calm individual, noting that there isn't anything to get excited about at the present moment except that his men are going into the break as the leaders.

"We wanted to go into the Christmas break in the same fashion as how we started, which was with a win, so it was good to get the job done," said Steede.

"We knew it was going to be a hard fought match and that they would come at us, being that they are the home side.

"They had a lot riding on this game as well in that they were trying to get into Dudley Eve.

"But we came with a point to prove as well, we weren't going to lay down and wanted to end the league campaign on a winning note.

"In the end it panned out in our favour.

"Domico is always a big player, his one of the best on the Island.

"For him to come off of injury the way he did, he has put the work in off the pitch and it shows week in and week out.

"Right now it is about winning every game as they come, so the next match will be just as important as the last, whether it be a Cup game or league fixture."

North Village

C. Augustus, R. Wilson, D. Swan, D. Edwards, D. Tankard, M. Godfrey (M. Godfrey-45), J. Jennings, K. Dill, K. Bean, R. Bean, S. Hollis

Devonshire Cougars

R. Brangman, D. Cox, K. Franks, I. Mallory, J. Butterfield, T. Steede, K. Tucker (L. Brangman- 70), R. Robinson, D. Coddington, M. Smith, K. Steede

Referee

A. Francis

Yellow Cards

M. Godfrey (North Village)

K. Franks, K. Tucker (Cougars)

Man of the Match

Mark Smith(Cougars)