St David's 2 Dev Colts 1

It's a pity that both teams couldn't leave Lord's yesterday with maximum points from this often thrilling Premier Division game that exceeded all expectations.

Some might have predicted a lacklustre match-up, but it was anything but with both goalkeepers – Corey Richardson for the home side, and Greg Rose for the visitors – pulling off a string of spectacular saves.

Had it not been for their great agility, the eventual score could easily have been 6-6. In between the brilliance of the two goalkeepers a number of shots struck the post or crossbar, preventing a hatful of goals.

In a contest that saw neither team looking like an outfit in the lower half of the table, St David's got into action right away with Donte Albouy sending a fierce shot straight at goalkeeper Rose from 14 yards.

Colts came more into the game and were unlucky after 15 minutes when right full-back Diego McCallan, who had a great game, headed a ball emerging from a group of attackers off the goal-line.

After this scare St David's found their way into the Colts' penalty box but Dominique Lambert saw Bayon Robinson block his shot as he was about to steer it home from close range.

Following these chances fans were entertained by some good counter-attacks, interspersed with a few dull spells of midfield play, until Lozendro Symonds put Colts ahead from close in in the 32nd minute after combining with striker Kyle Jones and Ryan Tyrrell.

The match came alive again four minutes later when Angelo Cannonier, a workhorse upfront for St David's, hammered home a free kick from 22 yards to level the scores.

Bayon Robinson failed to restore Colts' lead four minutes later, heading a cross from Coolridge Durham wide from eight yards when he should have hit the target.

That miss was followed by an act of brilliance by McCallan, the defender sensationally clearing a lob from Kyle Jones off the goal line with goalkeeper Richardson well off his line.

After an even opening half Landro Minors, who came on as a substitute for Albouy after 45 minutes, put a wicked shot against the bar from 24 yards with the rebound astonishingly being put into his own goal by Terry Foote to hand St David's a 2-1 lead after 52 minutes.

St David's piled on the pressure and four minutes later O.J. Minors held his head in despair as his bullet shot from 24 yards was tipped over the bar by Rose. And seconds later, during the relentless assault, Rose was in position to tip over a superb header by Landro Minors which was destined for the back of net.

Colts came close to scoring a deserved equaliser after 59 minutes but centre-back Aaron Lugo cleared a shot off the goal-line after Kyle Jones' effort crashed off the post.

O.J.Minors had a good chance but sent his shot straight at goalkeeper Rose in the 65th minute.

Further counter-attacks saw goalkeeper Richardson at the opposite end use his legs to block a shot by hard-working Colts' right winger Carlos Trott.

After 75 minutes substitute Mark Crawford of St David's hit the bar from 16 yards, a minute later Robinson at the other end tipped over an effort from Jones, and Rose then saved a close-range shot from Lambert to provide an exciting climax to a game that neither team deserved to lose.

St David's: C.Richardson; D.McCallan, D.Butterfield, A.Lugo, T.Caisey; O.Minors, D.Albouy (L.Minors, 45 min), F.Crockwell; D.Lambert, A.Cannonier, S.Boddington (M.Crawford 38 min, (K.Bean 76 min). Subs not used: S.Robinson, F.Sewell, D.Rogers, J.Daniels.

Goals: A Cannonier, T Foote (own goal).

Devonshire Colts: G Rose; E Wilkin, M Burch, B Robinson, T Foote; C Durham (M Pace, 86 min), M Piper, L Symonds (D Williams, 76 min); C Trott, K Jones, R Tyrell. Subs not used: N Bascome, K Wade, Q Jones, V Ball

Goal: L Symonds.

Booked: C Durham.

Referee: E Holmes.

Man of the match: Diego McCallan