A goal three minutes before the interval by Mark Smith saw Cougars grab a hold of the Premier Division leadership once again.

Cougars needed maximum points at White Hill field yesterday to overtake previous leaders Dandy Town who were idle on the day due to the Island's World Cup commitment and Cougars did exactly what they had to even though it wasn't pretty.

Colts on the other hand, needed to get maximum points to lessen their relegation worries ? and they failed miserably during an overall performance that surely must have rated as one of their worst of the season.

Close to pathetic from start to finish, Colts barely had a direct shot on goal and must surely be concerned to finish the day just one point ahead of second-last placed side Somerset Eagles.

Despite looking jaded throughout, Cougars did enough to dominate and should have come away with a far more emphatic victory.

Smith's goal after 42 minutes was inevitable, coming after striker Raymond Beach had missed two sitters during the first 17 minutes.

Colts' goalkeeper Kevin Bean was their only bright spot, time and time again he either dived to push goal-bound shots away or advanced off his line to block Beach who could also be accused of missing three blunders.

Smith's clincher came after he combined with Heys Wolfe before whipping home a shot from about 12 yards.

After their depressingly poor first half when they failed to worry Lovintz Tota in the Cougars' goal, Colts showed more ambition when play re-started but yet they were unable to establish any initiative.

A persistent Cougars side attacked when they wanted and were unlucky after 65 minutes when Bean once again came off his line to block Wolfe who was through on a breakaway.

With Colts only threatening during corners or crosses from either wing, their chances of scoring looked more and more hopeless as time ticked away.

Once centre-back McKonnen Hollis was sent off for apparent use of foul language towards referee Anthony Mouchette after 80 minutes, it showed how frustration had totally got the best of Colts and the end was in sight.

Four minutes from time Bean once again came out of goal to block Wolfe away on a break, but the miss meant little because Cougars had been coasting to victory for quite awhile.

: K.Bean; Jermel Belboda, M.Hollis, M.Bean (D.Francis, 73 min), R.Spence (J.Simmons, 70 min); K. Simpson, D.Williams, K.Burchall; Q.Aberdeen (R.Pernell, 60 min), A.Zuill, D.Zuill. Subs not used: Z.Darrell, J.Fubler.

: L.Tota; J.Butterfield, S.Smith, V.Martin, O.Butterfield (J.DeShields, 61 min); W.Salaam, R.Swan, K.Martin; H.Wolfe, R.Beach, M.Smith (K.Goddard, 73 min). Subs not used: J.Salaam, J.Simmons.R.Swan (Cougars)M. Hollis (Colts): Kevin Bean (Colts); Vashon Martin (Cougars).: Anthony Mouchette.