Dev Cougars 3 PHC 2

Devonshire Cougars bounced back from their Dudley Eve final loss to Dandy Town by taking all three points against PHC at Devonshire Rec last night.

However, the league champions did not have it all their own way despite taking what appeared to be an unassailable 3-0 lead early in the second half.

Cougars had the best possible start when Drewonde Bascome opened the scoring in the fifth minute and then Domico Coddington set up Zeko White to score the second after 13 minutes.

Veteran midfielder Kwame Steede almost added a third for Cougars five minutes before the break when his lob inside the box was headed off the line following a corner on the right.

Cougars did get that third goal in the 57th minute when a high ball ball into the box from a Bascome free kick on the half-way line saw Kwame Steede get in between a defender and the goalkeeper and steer his header into the empty goal.

The 3-0 lead should have settled the points for the home team but PHC quickly fought back with two goals in the space of seven minutes to set up an interesting finish to the match.

First captain Cecoy Robinson tapped home from inside the six yard box in the 59th minute and then in the 66th minute Shakir Smith scored with a volley from the edge of the box after Kevin Lambe’s long ball forward created the opening for the winger.

PHC, now with renewed hope of getting a point, did most of the attacking in the closing minutes as they fought hard for the equaliser. Cougars were left to hang on with 10 men after Zakai Iris was sent off in the 78th minute for using abusive language to a referee’s assistant.

Joseph had a late effort turned around the post for a corner by Kioshi Trott in the Cougars goal as PHC kept pressing for the equaliser.