Devonshire Cougars 1

PHC Zebras 0

With a flick of the boot, Machi Battersbee earned Devonshire Cougars a hard-fought victory they probably did not deserve against PHC Zebras at Devonshire Recreation Club yesterday.

The Cougars midfielder applied the deftest of touches to Drewonde Bascome’s outswinging free kick to settle an intriguing contest that could have gone either way.

Cougars’ victory did not come without cost, however, as Kijuan Franks, the influential central defender, limped off with a calf strain midway through the second half. It was a cruel end to a solid display by Franks, who made some timely tackles to thwart PHC.

Zebras, who led the table before the game, were unfortunate not to come away with at least a share of the spoils after carving out several clear-cut chances and hitting the woodwork twice.

Shakir Smith, the PHC striker, had a game he would rather forget, wasting good chances — including one from inside the six-yard box that struck the bar with Kioshi Trott, the Cougars goalkeeper, stranded.

The away side had threatened to break the deadlock first when Smith broke free and rounded the onrushing Trott, only to be thwarted by the boot of Franks, who got just enough of the ball to clear the danger.

Having dodged a bullet, Cougars should have taken the lead moments later. Zeko White, the Cougars striker, found himself with only Daniel Adams, the PHC goalkeeper, to beat but hesitated and the chance went begging. Bascome should also have done better with a free kick just outside of the area but rather than placement, the Cougars midfielder opted for pace and blasted over the bar.

Zebras defended for long spells but threatened on the break with their counter-attacking brand of football. On one such raid, Jaynai Raynor, the Zebras forward, volleyed just over.

The game’s decisive moment then arrived, Battersbee scoring the game’s winner just before half-time, with PHC paying a heavy price for conceding a free kick deep in their own half.

In response, Zebras threatened twice in the dying minutes of the opening stanza, Smith dragging a shot wide and Kadeem Abraham, the midfielder, lobbing over an open net after intercepting a poor goal kick by Trott.

The game opened up in the second half, which saw Zebras enjoy the lion’s share of possession and carve out plenty of chances. Cougars tested Adams with an ambitious long-range effort straight from the kick off but the home team were forced to defend for the majority of the half as PHC mounted wave after wave of attacks in search of an equaliser.

With Marquel Waldron and Cecoy Robinson pulling the strings in the middle, Zebras were denied again when Franks intercepted Smith’s threatening pass into the box towards the unmarked Abraham.

Cougars nearly doubled their lead against the run of play when Bascome volleyed Kenneth DeSilva’s precision cross just over. Robinson went close with a volley at the opposite end, while Smith’s shooting woes continued when he dragged a shot wide when scoring seemed easier. What occurred next defied logic but best summed up PHC’s frustrating afternoon as Smith inexplicably struck the bar with a casual effort in the goalmouth.

Zebras pressed right until the final whistle, with Julian Carpenter, the Zebras substitute, going closest when he clipped the bar from outside the area. Cougars, though, had done just enough to get safely across the line.