Hamilton Parish 2

Devonshire Colts 4

Devonshire Colts celebrated their return to the top flight by ruthlessly dispatching Hamilton Parish at Wellington Oval yesterday.

Parish, who lost their coach Kieshon Smith to Somerset Trojans in the summer, left themselves with a mountain to climb as they were three goals down by half time.

Early on Parish’s Patrick Richardson threaded a pass to Donovan Thompson who found his way into the Colts box but placed his shot just wide.

The miss would prove to be Parish’s only clear shot at goal during the first half as the Colts defence managed time and again to repel their forward line.

Windy conditions continued to play havoc with the ball throughout the first 25 minutes. However, Colts’ Lozendro Symonds opened his team’s account when he controlled a loose ball deep inside the Parish half.

Symonds turned sharply to get off a blistering shot from 20 yards that eluded Parish goalkeeper, Nigel Burgess, and nestled just inside the right post.

Colts continued their relentless assault on the Parish defence and after some nifty passing through the middle were rewarded in the 40th minute with their second goal when Kyle Jones found himself alone. Jones squeezed off his shot that curled around the defence and settled inside the left upright.

Colts’ players were sensing a kill and with their vociferous coach, Ray Jones, exhorting his charges on from the sidelines, Colts struck again in the 43rd minute when Teniko Eve intercepted a weak back-pass from 40 yards out. Eve raced at goal, beat his defender and fired a shot that left Burgess no chance.

Parish emerged in the second half with a renewed sense of urgency with Romone Smith blasting a shot just inches over the bar from 18 yards out.

They were beginning to pin the Colts defenders on their heels and came dangerously close to scoring again a minute later when Thompson volleyed his shot just over Gregory Rose, the Colts goalkeeper.

In the 65th minute, Thompson had his point-blank shot turned away for a corner by Rose. From the ensuing kick, Thompson was the chief beneficiary when he pounced on a loose ball to fire low past the stranded goalkeeper.

Parish then allowed Colts to score one minute later after Symonds sent a long ball through the middle, splitting the defence. Ryan Purnell was able to outpace the Parish defence, round the goalkeeper and score from a tight angle.

The home side did manage to earn themselves a penalty in the 78th minute when a Colts defender tripped his man in the area. Chris Caisey calmly stepped up to slot his hard, low shot past Rose.

Ray Jones, the Colts coach, said: “We want to win our games, but our main purpose coming up for this season is simply about survival.

Meanwhile, opposite number, Cymandi Davis, said: “My initial goal is to get us together playing as a team. We need to find ourselves and give 100 per cent effort. Ultimately, we will be looking for points and to have a good season.”