A youthful Devonshire Cougars clawed their way back in Dudley Eve contention at the Den yesterday as goals from deputising skipper Darius Cox and Randy Robinson eliminated PHC Zebras from the festive competition.

The Big Cats' hard-fought win also put a big dent in PHC hopes of giving former player and Hall of Famer, Earl (Townsey) Russell, a famous win on his 80th birthday over the weekend.

Dead ball specialists Cox put Cougars ahead early with a 25 yard free-kick that Zebras' 'keeper Raymon Glasford fumbled over the line.

Robinson then put the match beyond PHC's reach with some clinical finishing after receiving a gem of a pass from the hard-working Tumaini Steede.

Zebras replied through striker Kevin Lambe who netted in the 80th minute to set up a nail-biting finish as both teams took off the gloves and went for broke.

"That goal extended PHC a lifeline and definitely made things difficult for us . .. we were nervous," conceded a relieved Cougars coach Devarr Boyles after watching his team stave off a late Zebras flurry.

In truth, though, the final scoreline did Cougars' impressive performance scant justice as they were by far the better team for longer spells and could have easily had the match sewn up early in the second -half had they put away their chances.

"We are not really interested in the scorline but moreso the performance and in the first-half our performance was really good," added former Hornets coach Boyles.

"I thought we pushed it for about –15 to 20 minutes in the second-half. But after that our performance nosedived and I think that had to do with the new players we are trying to integrate in the team, as well as the fitness levels of some of the players that are presently playing on the team."

Cougars took the lead for good in the 11th minute when Cox, standing in for injured captain Kwame Steede, scored with a trademark free-kick from distance that in all honesty Glasford for some reason not wearing a cap with the sun in his face should have had covered.

Zebras also failed to find a solution for the free-flowing two-man demolition crew of Steede and Robinson who tormented Zebras with their sharp passing, all out hussle and excellent running off-the-ball that methodically stretched the opposition thin.

It was this lethal combination that led to Cougars doubling their lead minutes before the half.

Given just enough real-estate inside PHC terrain, the eagle-eyed Steede found Robinson free on the left-side with a piercing diagonal pass that caught the PHC defence flat footed.

Possessing a composure belying his tender years, Robinson drifted past the onrushing Glasford and buried his shot in the bottom right corner to send his team's drummers on the club balcony into overdrive.

Underlining Cougars' dominance in the first-half was the fact PHC failed to get a single shot on target. Cougars' keeper Ricardo Brangman probably never had it so easy before between the uprights.

The home side continued to create chances after the break with pacy forward Kor-Von Tucker causing mayhem down PHC's brittle left -side.

But after making a few tactical changes Zebras rallied and their direct approach eventually paid off when Lambe headed Stephen Astwood's free-kick past Brangman to throw the match wide open.

With subs Keston Lewis and Quinton Burgess now a thorn in Cougars' side, Zebras went on an all-out blitz in search of an equaliser that would have sent this absorbing contest into penalties. But a stubborn Cougars refused to buckle under pressure and in the end managed to hold on by a thread to breathe new life in their bid for a second piece of silverware for the season.

"I thought we kind of hung on for the last 20 minutes or so. But overall I was really pleased with what I thought was a steady performance by our players," added Boyles.

The Big Cats will now renew rivalries with Dandy Town, losers to Boulevard at Wellington Oval on Boxing Day, tomorrow night at Somerset Cricket Club where the eventual winner will take on Andrew Bascome's Blazers in the New Year's Day final at Lords.

Hornets beat Cougars 2-0 at Somerset Cricket Club in the opening December 17 Dudley Eve clash.

"We are not worrying what any of our opponents bring . . . we are just focusing on possession and playing Cougars football," Boyles smiled.

Devonshire Cougars: R.Brangman, J.Butterfield, D.Cox (capt), K.Franks, I.Mallory, S.Brangman, R.Robinson, M.Smith (Z.White, 78 mins), K.Tucker (L.Tota, 72 mins), T.Steede, L.Weeks (D.Simmons, 60 mins).

PHC: R.Glasford, K.Richards, O.Shakir (capt), C.Dowling, J.Ball (K.Lewis, 45 mins), B.Bean, K.Lambe, S.Astwood, C.Castle (Q.Burgess, 78 mins), S.Givans, J.Franklyn (C.Robinson, 55 mins).

Booked: R.Brangman, T.Steede (Cougars)

Man of the match: R.Robinson (Cougars)

Referee: Anthony Mouchette.