Brangman snatches late winner
PHC 1 Devonshire Cougars 2Teenager Chae Brangman scored an 89th minute winner as Devonshire Cougars claimed all three points at Southampton Oval to open a four-point lead over PHC in this top-of-the-table clash.The match looked headed for a draw when Jesse Seymour’s low, teasing cross from the left was met at the far post by the 17-year-old Brangman who kept his composure to sidefoot home a precious winner for his ninth goal of the season.Teenagers are starting to play key roles in Cougars’ success this season, following the man-of-the-match performance by goalkeeper Kioshi Trott — another 17-year-old in the team’s Friendship Trophy victory over Dandy Town on Tuesday.This time Brangman played a key role after coming on as a replacement for the injured Domico Coddington in the 55th minute.“I came on and had a job to do and I accomplished that job,” said the solidly built youngster who provided some height and strength to the Cougars attack.“I tried to stay composed, I saw the ball was on a little curl so I tried to get behind it. That was the game predictor right there.”Prior to the goal, PHC were starting to look the more likely to score as they launched a late surge with captain Cecoy Robinson having a sidefooted effort parried by keeper Trott above his head.Minutes earlier he got on the end of a cross into the box by Johnny Robinson but placed his free header over the top when with the keeper to beat.Cougars made three changes to the team which started in the Friendship final as Kijuan Franks returned to the defence in place of Darius Cox and Connecko Trott and Zahkie Iris for Philip Parsons and Moses Steede.It was the Zebras who took a deserved lead in the sixth minute when the Cougars defence was stretched by a quick break down the left by the pacy Shakir Smith who got away from full back Darren Williams and supplied a cross which Robinson met at the far post and planted past Trott.With the top spot at stake, Cougars were quick to respond with Drewonde Bascome putting a free kick from the left side of the box just over the bar. The youngster supplied the pass in the 19th minute for Domico Coddington to run into the box on the right side and find the far bottom corner with a smart finish past Troy Hall Jr in the PHC goal.Cougars were unlucky not to score a second goal in the 36th minute when Coddington caught Hall out of position and beat him to the ball before laying the ball back for Kor-von Tucker who lifted his effort over the top with Hall still out of position.The win moved Cougars on to 23 points, four ahead of PHC in second place.PHC: T.Hall; M.Simmons, R.Richardson, A.Russell, J.Ball, J.Sealey, M.Waldron, T.Ming, S.Smith L.Bascome 69min), C.Robinson, I.Sharrieff (K.Lightbourne 57min).Subs not used: T.Place, M.Lambe, T.Brown, C.Castle, D.Joell.Yellow card: Tre MingDev.Cougars: K.Trott, D.Williams, K.Franks, Z.White, C.Trott, L.Tota, K.Tucker, Z.Iris, D.Coddington (C.Brangman 55min), D.Bascome (D.Daniels 71min), J.Seymour.Subs not used: J.Smith, K.DeSilva, M.Steede, M.Battersbee, J.Mouchette.Referee: Martin WyerMan of the match: Jesse Seymour (Cougars).