Devonshire Cougars2 Somerset Trojans0

Devonshire Cougars coach Kwame Steede was a satisfied man after his team’s 2-0 win over Somerset Trojans yesterday, in a Premier Division contest at Devonshire Rec, pointing to tactical execution as the main reason behind their success.

Two second half goals, the result of a relentless high press that forced the Trojans into making defensive errors, handed the Cougars a well-deserved victory, leaving Steede pleased with the commitment shown by his players towards the strategy going into the match.

“The work that we put in all week, came out today’,” Steede said.

“We pressed and we knew they would make mistakes. Not too many teams could handle constant pressure and we capitalised on the errors. The team trusted the process and it paid off.”

Still, it was the Trojans who provided the early threat, giving the Cougars a scare during the opening exchanges, when a low, driven, free kick from Justin Corday bounced untouched across the goalmouth, rolling inches past the upright.

A few minutes later, Cougars’s Domico Coddington had the ball in the back of the net after being put through by Lineiko Millett, but he was ruled offside, much to the relief of the Trojans faithful.

The Trojans continued to flirt with danger, as their determination to build their play from defence, more often than not came to nothing because of a poor final pass, and at times forced them into desperate defending after an interception.

As both teams hunted the opener, Corday tried to surprise the Cougars with another sneaky, low free kick, but goalkeeper Kioshi Trott, was alert and saved at his near post to keep the scores level.

On the stroke of half time, Cougars’ Zari Simmons chipped an inch perfect pass into the path of Quadir Maynard, who controlled nicely only to pull his hamstring as he was about to shoot.

The would prove to be the last chance of the half as the teams went into the locker rooms scoreless with the Cougars enjoying the momentum.

Their goal would come just two minutes after the break, when Maynard’s replacement Elijah Darrell paying immediate dividends, when he dispossessed Trojans’s center back Tevahn Tyrell and was brought down leaving Referee Antoine Augustus no option but to award a penalty.

Midfielder Chris Caisey stepped up and placed his spot kick beyond the outstretched arms of the diving Trojans goalkeeper, Jade Morrissey.

Cougars continued their high press and would double their lead when Trojans’’s midfielder, Marqual Nisbett-Tankard, was robbed by Simmons who sent Chekai Caisey on a run down the left flank.

Caisey dribbled towards goal before keeping his composure to slip the ball under the advancing goalkeeper.

The Trojans almost scored a consolation goal near the end when Nisbett-Tankard’s goal-bound header from substitute Damon Ming’s corner was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Trott.

The win took the Cougars to eight points, one more than the Trojans.

SCORERS

Devonshire Cougars: Chris Caisey 47, Chekai Caisey 74

TEAMS

Devonshire Cougars (4-2-3-1): K Trott 6 ‒ J Thomas 6, L Millett 6, Z White 6, T Tucker 6 ‒ Z Simmons 7, Chris Caisey 7 ‒ Chekai Caisey 7 (sub: K Minors 80), Q Maynard 5 (sub: E Darrell 46 6), D Williams 5 (sub: M Battersbee 75) ‒ D Coddington 6. Substitutes not used: A Cannonier, C Albuoy, N Simmons. Booked: Z Simmons.

Somerset Trojans (4-2-3-1): J Morrissey 6 ‒ A Morrissey 5 (sub: K Sharieff-Hayward 47 5), J Ratteray-Smith 5, T Tyrell 5, J Carpenter 5 ‒ D Brangman 5, M Nisbett-Tankard 5 ‒ J Corday 6 (sub: D Ming 75), J Butterfield 5 (sub: H Eve 75), J Furbert 5 (sub: K Brangman 75) ‒ N Rego 5 (sub: N Smith 65 4). Substitutes not used: C Durham, M Aden, D Swan, N Durham. Booked: J Corday, D Ming.

Referee: A Augustus