Somerset Trojans 1 Devonshire Cougars 1

Devonshire Cougars earned a hard-fought draw courtesy of a late strike from Zeko White.

Although Cougars had the more telling runs and possession in the first quarter of an hour it was Trojans who came closest to scoring after a one-two between Jordan Ratteray-Smith and Leo Burgess saw Burgess fire his shot into the side netting.

A minute later Trojans’ Zahkie Iris’s header was tipped over by Cougars goalkeeper Xyon Outerbridge-Smith.

With both sides pressing for the advantage, Trojans broke the deadlock. A loose ball from a corner was picked up by Jonathan Bean, who managed to squeeze his pass to Justin Corday who slotted home from two yards.

Cougars were unfortunate not to score a minute before half-time after a penetrating run from midfielder Jawonday Smith saw him thread deft pass to Jomeko Mallory inside the box. Mallory turned sharply on the ball to get off his shot that was brilliantly saved by Trojans’ goalkeeper Hubert Butterfield who got a foot to the ball.

Cougars began the second half with renewed vigour. They came close to opening their account in the 47th minute when Mallory chased down a deep pass along the left flanks that Trojans were slow reacting to.

Mallory rounded his defender only to for his effort to be palmed away by the goalkeeper.

A minute later, Cougars’ Mark Steede appeared to level the score, but his goal was disallowed because of offside. With momentum clearly in Cougars’ favour, they again came dangerously close to scoring when Darren Williams had a point-blank shot ricochet off the leg of Trojans defender Ratteray-Smith.

With Trojans stacking their defence and Cougars sending everyone forward in search of the equaliser. Their strategy almost backfired when Trojans’ substitute, Alton Trott, nearly put the Trojans two goals up but his shot was saved by Outerbridge-Smith in the 80th minute.

After the sending off of Jonathan Bean in the 82nd minute, Cougars upped the pressure. They would be rewarded in the 86th minute when White snaked his way along Trojans’ byline.

White eluded his defender to squeeze his shot from a tight angle. His blocked attempt popped back to him and White placed the ball low and hard into the net.

SCORERS

Somerset Trojans

Corday 39

Devonshire Cougars

White 86

TEAMS

Somerset Trojans (4-4-2): H Butterfield — J Bean, J Corday, C Durham, Z Iris — T Ming, T Outerbridge, L Burgess (sub: D Woods, 75min), J Ratteray-Smith — T Wade, M Jones (sub: A Trott, 65). Substitutes not used: S Bean, S Brangman, A Seaman, R Simmons. Booked: J Ratteray-Smith. Sent off: J Bean.

Devonshire Cougars (4-3-3): X Outerbridge-Smith — C Brangman, C Burns, D Williams, J Smith — J Mallory (sub: L Tota, 54), K Franks, N Carmichael (sub: L Brangman, 58), Z White —

Z Simmons, M Steede (sub: S Jones, 70). Substitutes not used: N Simmons, J Wade. Booked: J Smith.

Referee: L Cann.