Somerset Trojans 1 Devonshire Cougars 2

It was a case of late joy for Devonshire compared to further heartbreak for Somerset as two second half goals, including an 89th-minute winner gave the former victory and a precious three points at Somerset Cricket Club Field today.

In two strokes of coaching genius by Cougars’ Vance Brown, two of the substitutes inserted paid dividends scoring both goals, with Zari Simmons notching a 62nd-minute equaliser shortly after his introduction while Allan Douglas Jr did likewise, netting the winner moments after coming off the bench.

The result was less than the home team deserved for a battling effort in what has been a season of woe, as well as after they had led for much of the match.

Trojans came out blazing early on and received immediate reward from their first concerted attack which was orchestrated by Khiari Sharrieff-Hayward along the left flank with the winger creating space with some intricate close ball skills before crossing to the middle for striker Jaz Ratteray, who made no error from our yards out, placing the ball in Ajai Daniels left corner.

Cougars attempted to come back into the match with Drewonde Bascome and Jahzarde Samuels the chief instigators of most attacks, but the normally suspect Somerset defence on this day stood firm in repelling attempts to fracture.

Trojans frontman Leo Burgess troubled with his speed, however, after the earlier conversion by Ratteray-Smith the final touch disappeared for the home side and a single goal rarely appeared it would be enough.

Such was revealed in the second stanza as Somerset needlessly gave the ball away to Simmons deep in their own segment and the attacker gleefully accepted, taking two dribbles to shape before unleashing a powerful low drive that gave a sprawling Dequan Crockwell little chance to prevent entering the left corner of goal.

Then, as it seemed Somerset would at least secure heir second point of the season those dreams too evaporated despite yeoman effort by Crockwell, who did well to dive and save Elisha Darrell’s firm drive but failing to hold on to the ball it was left for Douglas to follow up and plant the rebound home from a mere three yards.

Somerset coach was obviously disappointed with his team’s failure to finish off their mission on the day and pointed to a lack of discipline on the part o his players as well as them needing to be tougher all around.

“The first half was perfect the second half was in disciplined, making silly mistakes,” Dennis Brown, the Trojans coach, said. “We made too many mistakes in crucial areas and so said, so done, you lose the game, if you do not stay disciplined in this game that’s what happens.

“This game is about toughness, not just physical toughness but mental toughness. When you think you can’t go any more you have to go beyond your limits and today we didn’t go beyond our limits and that’s what happened, Cougars kept coming and some of us put our tails between our legs and that’s the end result, but still we have to keep plugging away, we’ve improved but we have to keep on improving in the areas I’ve mentioned.”

Meanwhile, Cougars’ coach Vance Brown who on this day defeated his uncle was satisfied with he win regardless of how it came.

“As I told my team, sometimes you have to play ugly and still win an today was an example of that,” he said. “We were not at our best but we got the result that we needed. The players worked really hard and got the result that we needed,”

“It’s a must for us to get points against teams that are under us and close to us. All credit to Somerset, they came at us and brought it to us and really didn’t look like a bottom half team. They just need to keep the fight going.”

SCORERS

Somerset Trojans: Jaz Ratteray-Smith 4

Devonshire Cougars: Zari Simmons 62, Allan Douglas Jr 89

TEAMS

Somerset Trojans (4-4-2): D Crockwell — R Quinn, J Stowe, T Ming, Jaden Ratteray-Smith — K Sharrieff-Hayward, M Joell, D swan (sub: C Durham 74min), J Butterfield (sub: D Wainwright, 67) — L Burgess, Jaden Ratteray-Smith (sub: Sharrieff-Hayward, 59). Booked: Burgess, Stowe.

Devonshire Cougars (4-3-3): A Daniels — J Mouchette, Zeko White, A Samuels, Zakiro White — J Samuels, C Caisey J Wade (sub: Z Simmons, 46) — J Fox (sub: A Douglas, 65), E Butterfield, D Bascome (sub: E Darrell, 58). Booked: J Samuels.

Referee: G Swainson.