Devonshire Cougars 1

Somerset Trojans 3

Somerset Trojans got their league title defence back on track after coming from behind to see off cellar dwellers Devonshire Cougars at Devonshire Recreation Club last night.

Jahkee Smith, the Cougars striker, gave the home team the lead against the run of play, before Trojans hit back with three goals inside of eight minutes from Jonathan Bean, Trevin Ming and Sean Brangman.

Trojans thoroughly deserved to win as they dominated proceedings throughout, and could have easily won by a wider margin against a Cougars side who played the last 21 minutes with ten men.

Lamont Brangman, on as a second half substitute, received a second booking for a reckless tackle which forced Dennis Lister, the Somerset full back, out of the match with a foot injury.

The visitors took early control and nearly came close to opening their account on a few occasions during the opening exchanges.

Dion Stovell, the Somerset striker, dispossessed Jawonday Smith, the Cougars full back, but shot tamely into the arms of Ricardo Brangman, the Cougars goalkeeper.

Stovell, who tormented the Cougars defence all night, threatened again moments later. Brangman raced off his line to narrow the angle, and Stovell’s shot rolled across the goalmouth to strike partner Jonathan Bean whose effort was saved by the recovering goalkeeper.

By now Stovell was having things all his own way, and with his confidence soaring he unleashed a shot from distance during a quick raid down the middle, which Brangman barely kept out from crossing the line after he failed to collect the ball cleanly.

Cougars were kept on the back foot for most of the first half with their only real chance coming near the break when Shaquille Bean, the Somerset goalkeeper, raced off his line to beat Jakhkee Smith in a foot race to a loose ball played in the box.

Despite dominating possession and carving out more chances Somerset had nothing to show for their effort at the break.

Cougars were forced to make a substitution at the beginning of the second half, with Brangman replacing the injured Jawonday Smith.

Somerset picked up where they left off after the break, with Ricardo Brangman racing off his line to clear the ball away as Stovell moved in for the kill.

However, the game was turned on its head when Jahkee Smith fired home a rebound from an angle to give Cougars the lead against the run of play.

The hosts’ joy was short-lived though, as Trojans responded with three goals in quick succession to kill the game off.

Bean drew his side level when slotted into an empty net after Brangman failed to collect Calin Maybury’s cross in the box.

Maybury also had a hand in Somerset’s winner, as his corner kick was tapped in at the far post by Ming. It was the Somerset captain’s first goal of the season, and came after the Cougars defence failed to clear their lines.

Brangman then put the match beyond Cougars’ reach with the goal of the night when he latched onto a partial clearance and scored with a rasping volley into the far top corner.

By now Cougars were a beaten bunch, and they were fortunate not to leak further goals as the game started to resemble a training ground exercise for the visitors with Stovell, Bean and Zahkie Iris all going close.

Cougars’ night went from bad to worse when substitute Lamont Brangman was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in the space of six minutes.

The hosts’ frustrations were perhaps best summed up when Vince Minors, the Cougars winger, struck the uprights virtually standing on the goalline.

With the victory, Somerset climbed from seventh to fifth in the Premier Division standings while Cougars remained anchored at the bottom without a point.