Somerset Trojans 3 Devonshire Cougars 5

Chris Caisey’s hat-trick got Devonshire Cougars’ title bid back on track at Somerset Cricket Club last night.

The experienced midfielder opened his account from the penalty spot in the first half before adding two more after the break to put the game beyond the reach of hosts Somerset Trojans.

Jecoa Thomas and Elisha Darrell accounted for Cougars’ other tallies while Somerset forward Justin Corday scored a hat-trick in a losing cause.

“I thought we played some good football,” Kwame Steede, the Cougars coach, said. “It was not in longer spells that I wanted but they done the job.

“We scored goals, created chances and overall it’s a good result and three massive points.”

The result saw Cougars leapfrog St George’s Colts and North Village into second place, just a point behind leaders PHC Zebras.

Trojans drew first blood when Corday swept in DeAndre Wainwright’s pass in the box in the 17th minute.

Thomas equalised for Cougars when he spotted Trojans goalkeeper Jade Morrissey off his line and chipped into the corner from 35 yards out in the 38th minute.

Caisey then put Cougars ahead right on the stroke of halftime from the penalty spot after Jayori Fox went down in the area under a challenge from Jaz Ratteray-Smith.

Trojans came out swinging at the start of the second period with Corday burying Simeon Burrows’s cross in the 47th minute to bring the teams level again.

But Cougars regained the lead a minute later when Darrell beat Morrissey in a foot race to a loose ball and poked into the empty net.

Corday grabbed another equaliser for Trojans from the spot after Burrows was bundled over by Cougars goalkeeper Tahj Bell to complete his treble in the 57th minute.

Caisey put Cougars back in front for good a minute later when he beat Morrissey with a low drive from outside of the box.

He then drilled home Domico Coddington’s pass from close range after Morrissey’s poor clearance was intercepted to make the points safe.

SCORERS

Somerset Trojans: Corday, 17, 47, 57.

Devonshire Cougars: Chris Caisey 45, 58, 90; Thomas 38; Darrell 48.

TEAMS

Somerset Trojans (4-4-2): J Morrissey 4 – M Nisbett-Tankard 5, Jaz Ratteray-Smith 6, T Ming 6, Jadan Ratteray-Smith 6 (sub: J Butterfield, 74min 5) – J Gooden 6, J Greaves 5 (sub: M Joell, 17 6), J Iris 6 (sub: D Swan-DeSilva, 74 5), S Burrows 7 – J Corday 8, D Wainwright 6 (sub: E Mendes, 80). Substitutes not used: Z Saltus-Seymour, D Swan, K Joyiens. Booked: Jaz Ratteray-Smith, Gooden.

Devonshire Cougars(4-4-2): T Bell 7 – J Thomas 7, Z White 7, N Furbert 7, C Caisey 7 – J Fox 6 (sub: Z Simmons, 58 6), J Brimmer 7, Chris Caisey 8, D Daniels 7- D Coddington 6, E Darrell 6. Substitutes not used: K Darrell, J Furbert-Wade, N Carmichael, K Minors, N Simmons, J Wade. Booked: Brimmer, Che Kai Caisey, Daniels.

Referee: T Bassue (St Kitts).