Somerset Trojans legend Randy Horton praised Devonshire Cougars coach Dennis Brown for his Triple Crown winning success after yesterday’s triumph over his former team at the National Sports Centre.Sitting in the stands during the FA Cup final, Horton witnessed Cougars become the fifth team to win the league, FA Cup and Friendship in the same season, something Horton recalls doing with Somerset three straight seasons in their heyday. A cup final was the Trojans’ opportunity to shine, but yesterday they were clearly second best.“After the first half the game rose to a level that created some excitement, it was a rather boring first half,” said Horton, who enjoyed success as both a player and coach of the Trojans.“In the second half both teams came out and looked like they wanted to win and in the end when Somerset lost their opportunity (penalty miss) Cougars pounced straight away and went down and got a goal and that was it,” said the sportsman-turned-politician.“It was certainly much more exciting in the second half than the first half. In the second half the players picked up their enthusiasm level.”Horton had praise for schoolboy Chae Brangman who made an impact immediately after coming on as a sub. Not unlike Horton in his day, Brangman is a big strong centre forward with a bit of pace and aggression.“He did a good job and he created a few opportunities that created some excitement in front of goal,” said Horton. “But the quality of the finishing wasn’t really there.”Horton, a former Sports Minister, admits he has only watched about three games this year.In his day an FA Cup final was a much anticipated finale to a football season with the likes of PHC, North Village, Devonshire Colts and Somerset Trojans involved in some exciting finals as thousands packed into the old National Stadium on Cup final day. Yesterday, despite Cougars going for the Triple Crown, only about 400 people were there to witness it.“I arrived here at ten to three and there was virtually nobody in the stands and I asked the question ‘what time does the game start,” said Horton. “An FA Cup final, I figured 2.30 everybody would be in the stands waiting for the teams.”Horton conceded that Cougars were the better team and deserved to win. “With the Somerset team there are a lot of basic stuff that they need to learn, but I’d encourage them,” said the former coach. He is pleased for Brown’s achievement with Cougars and made the effort to congratulate him after the game.“I think it’s great, Dennis played for me when I was coaching Somerset. He was an outstanding player and is also doing a great job as coach. What really needs to be brought into the game is a higher level of discipline in terms of the players sticking to their plans and paying attention to the strategies that the coaches set out for them.“They tell me that he’s brought a high level of that over to the Cougars organisation and it shows in that they have been able to achieve the triple this year. Dennis was always an outstanding player and is doing just as well as a coach. I congratulate him and wish him all the best.”