Devonshire Cougars 2

St George’s 1

Lavintz Tota scored a goal in each half from poor clearances as St George’s were denied the victory that would have lifted them into first place in the Premier Division last night at Devonshire Recreation Club.

The mid-table match was a hard-fought encounter with the east-enders battling hard for a share of the points in the second half. They had strong claims for a penalty for a handball by Kijuan Franks turned down by referee Elihu Holmes midway through the second half as Cougars hung on for a win that moved them ahead of St George’s into fifth place but level on seven points with PHC, North Village, Robin Hood and Somerset Trojans.

Kameron Fox had praise for his newly promoted team for the way they battled against the former league champions in the second half. “It was the fight and determination that they showed,” the St George’s coach said.

“I’m proud of my team. We came and gave 100 per cent. Cougars are a premier team and we have nothing to be ashamed about. We still have six points and now have a little break to recuperate, start over and work for more points.

“Cougars got the better of us and I congratulate them, but I just hope my players hold their heads high for a game well fought.”

A couple of showers made the conditions challenging but failed to dampen the spirit of the two teams, although it was Cougars who had most of the possession in the opening 15 minutes. Zack Morris, their left back, posed an early threat down with his forward runs and almost set up a goal after only five minutes when his cross into the six-yard box was lifted over the bar for a corner by a defender.

The best chance for St George’s came when Dominique Lambert’s effort was pushed around the near post for a corner by Kioshi Trott after Jarizinho Bassett set him up. Cougars, looking fluent going forward, took a deserved lead three minutes before the break when Tota, switched from full back last weekend to striker, converted from a Darius Cox corner on the right which was not cleared. Tota simply had to force the ball over the line from close range.

St George’s played with more spark from the start of the second half and cancelled out the Cougars lead with a well-taken goal by Bassett in the 50th minute after a throw in on the right. Bassett picked up the half-clearance on the right corner of the penalty box and curled a right-footed shot with the outside of his boot into the roof of the net with Trott down injured.

However, Cougars were not in the mood for sharing points, after drawing with Hamilton Parish and losing to Robin Hood in their previous two outings, and regained the lead in the 59th minute with another Tota strike. Cox sent a high ball into the penalty area, goalkeeper Charlie Marshall III managed only to punch the ball into the air and, when it came down, Tota rose and headed over the defence and into the empty goal.

Lambert had two chances to snatch a point for St George’s, but he put a left-foot shot wide from a good position and then pulled a shot on the turn just wide of the far post in stopping time.