Dandy Town 1 Devonshire Cougars 0

Dandy Town claimed top spot in the Bermuda Premier Division after edging Devonshire Cougars at Goose Gosling Field last night.

In an evenly-matched game between two previously unbeaten sides, Edry Moore’s 37th minute strike proved enough for Town to claim the points and stretch their flawless record to four successive victories.

Despite the scintillating start to the campaign, manager Jay Bean, who was dismissed from the bench just before half time, ominously warned Town’s rivals that there is still plenty of room for improvement from the league leaders.

“Obviously I’m happy to get another win, but I think there are plenty of things we can improve on still,” he said. “We haven’t been playing well this season but we have been picking up points.

“When we finally kick in, I’m pretty sure we will be more than a handful for anyone, hopefully be more dominant in games and really push on this season.

“We are building momentum, which is important, and to have four wins from four is obviously great.”

After a tentative opening 30 minutes in which the sides cancelled one another out in a tactical war of attrition, Devonshire Cougars created the first real opening.

A long diagonal from the right to the opposite flank, picked out Che’Kai Caisey, who in turn cut the ball back to the edge of the area to the onrushing Chris Caisey who could only manage to fire his first-time effort over the bar.

The latter then turned provider four minutes later, crossing for Elisha Darrell, whose goalbound header was pushed around the post by Daniel Johnson.

Somewhat against the run of play, Town broke the deadlock in the 37th minute when Moore found space in a crowded penalty area to bundle home Jomei Bean-Lindo’s inswinging corner from the left.

With momentum swinging in Town’s favour, they dictated the latter stages of the first half with Bean-Lindo testing Keitaro Darrell with a stinging 30-yard free kick before Nizigh Spence spurned another half chance, dragging a shot wide from the edge of the area.

There was just enough time for Bean to be given his marching orders from the dugout by visiting Jamaican referee O’Shane Nation, who took exception to a remark from the Town head coach.

Cougars started the second half with renewed impetus and came close to levelling four minutes after the restart with Elisha Darrell flashing a first-time left-foot shot just wide of the far post.

Enjoying a prolonged period of pressure, Couagars won a series of corners and again came close to levelling from one such opportunity in the 65th minute when Zeko White headed narrowly over.

Having weathered the storm, Town regained a foothold in proceedings and begun to create openings of their own. Their clearest opportunity fell to Tomiko Goater in the 71st minute but the forward failed to capitalise, dragging a shot wide after racing through.

He was almost made to rue his profligacy with just five minutes remaining as Cougars spurned one final chance to snatch a point.

A flowing move down the left hand side gave Elisha Darrell the chance to flick the ball into the path of the onrushing Domico Coddington who could only rifle his first-time effort over Johnson’s bar.

Town played out the closing stages to clinch what could prove a crucial victory against another potential title contender come the end of the season.

SCORERS

Dandy Town: Edry Moore 37

TEAMS

Dandy Town (4-1-4-1): D Johnson 7 – T Hayward 7, E Moore 8, T Webb 7, A Furbert 7 – J Bean-Lindo 8 – N Spence 8, K Sherrif-Hayward 7 (sub: T Manders 87), T Goater 6, A Simmons 6 – C Robinson (sub: S Tatem 70mins). Substitutes not used: J Wilson-Butterfield, D Scraders, S Darrell, J Talbot-Thomas, J Richardson-Martin. Booked: Moore, Furbert. Sent off: J Bean (head coach)

Devonshire Cougars (4-1-4-1): K Darrell 6 – L Simmons 7, Z White 7, Z Simmons, J Thomas 6 – K Minors 7 (sub: C Albouy 83) – D Daniels 6, Che’Kai Caisey 8, Chris Caisey 7, E Darrell 6 – D Coddington 6. Substitutes not used: J Furbert-Wade, J Seymour, Z Simmons, N Simmons. Booked: White