Belying their lowly position at the foot of the First Division, Devonshire Colts rose and nearly took a bite out of highly regarded Dandy Town, with only poor finishing and a disputed call by referee Dennis Wainwright standing in the way of an upset victory.

Wainwright's apparent failure to see a blatant hold by Town centre-back Giovanni Wilson on young striker Tajmal Webb in the 27th minute with the latter racing toward an open net denied the home team a sure goal, which on this day could have made all the difference.

However, Colts wasted a myriad of chances both before and after that incident to wipe the visitors off the pitch.

The match featured a dramatic role reversal from the outset, with the youthful Colts appearing mature and purposeful in their play, taking matters to the more seasoned visitors.

Sorely missed was speedy forward Carlos Smith, as his replacement Nathan Webb failed to make an impression under tight marking from centre-back Makonnen Hollis, while strike partner Darron Simons likewise failed to dent an ironclad Colts defence marshalled by Shannon Burgess.

Town though would have the first crack at goal in the ninth minute, with lanky Diallo Sharrieff hammering a header inches wide of the left upright after Walter Musson found him with a finely floated cross from the left.

This was not to be a sign of the times and from the miss Colts mounted an immediate response as they counter attacked, with Ellington Weldon performing a spectacular swivel-and-shoot manoeuvre, forcing goalkeeper Cymande Davis to palm the ball away for a corner.

Colts were now in full control and Smith just missed the target with a 40-yard free-kick that rocketed a foot over the bar in the 35th minute and moments later it was Weldon's turn, but like Smith he was wide left with a searing volley from the top of the area.

The second half witnessed a similar scenario, with Colts dominating but unable to provide final touch.

Weldon was guilty on at least three occasions, the most glaring in the 63rd minute when Davis made a miraculous leg save to deny the diminutive striker from point blank range after Smith threaded the perfect pass across goal.

In the end Town could count themselves lucky in attaining a share of the spoils when none would have been just reward.

Devonshire Colts: R.Darrell; K.Burchall, M.Hollis, S.Burgess, J.Jones (D.Ming 82 mins); J.Samuels, J.Bean (J.Belboda 36 mins), M.Ray; E.Weldon, C.Smith, T.Webb (S.Phillips 55 mins).

Dandy Town: C.Davis; A.Wilson, D.Sharrieff, G.Wilson, W.Rudo; M.Richardson (R.Parsons 63 mins), L.Furbert (A.Russell 63 mins), W.Musson, L.Christopher (P.Sampson 66 mins); N.Webb, D.Simons.

Men of the match: Makonnen Hollis (Devonshire Colts), Cymande Davis (Dandy Town).

Referee: Dennis Wainwright.

Dev.Colts 1, Dandy Town 6 Dandy Town took full advantage of the home team's tardy arrival to run out comfortable winners in this Junior Premier Division curtain-raiser at Frog Lane.

Colts began the match with just seven players and by the time the remainder of the squad arrived they were already five goals down and out of contention as Town scored in the sixth, ninth, 10th, 17th and 22nd minutes.

Orande Wilkin led the Town scoring with a hat-trick, while Maurice Lowe, Heys Wolfe and Malcolm Hewey tallied single goals. Devonne Simmons scored for Colts.