St. George's surpassed their 15-point haul of the last two seasons as a 48th minute own goal by Troy James confirmed Devonshire Cougars' return to the Second Division.

The win lifted St. George's over Devonshire Colts into seventh place in the standings and gave them hope of clinching a first ever spot in next season's Martonmere Cup.

St. George's, who watched Cougars snatch a late equaliser in the first half, endured a nervous last 15 minutes before referee Rex Osborne's final whistle brought relief to the home team.

St. George's didn't have the likes of Clay Smith (suspended), Dean Minors or Ricky Hill to call on and although coach Neil Paynter was listed as one of their three substitutes, he was more than content not to test his knee after surgery earlier in the season even though there were calls from the crowd for him to make his first appearance of the season.

St. George's had a good start when Jerry Laws opened the scoring after just 10 minutes, finishing off a pass from the left from Donald Whitfield with a left foot shot which he steered into Leon Place's far post.

It was no more than they deserved and when a host of chances were wasted after that it gave Cougars the opportunity to play themselves back into the match.

Two minutes after Laws' opener the striker went close to adding a second, but his near post flick to a Marlon Outerbridge cross was deflected past the upright for a corner.

With only a goal separating the teams late in the half Cougars came on stronger and got their reward two minutes before the break when veterans Dale Russell and Philip Clarke combined from a corner to make it 1-1.

Clarke created the opportunity when he won the corner on the right. From Russell's inswinging cross Clarke met it perfectly at the near post to plant his header past Troy Hall.

Cougars came out with new vigour in the second half but it was St. George's who scored again after just three minutes. Outerbridge crossed from the right and after Carlos Greaves flicked on at the near post James sliced the ball into his own goal.

After that the half followed a similiar pattern to the first with St. George's missing a number of chances before Cougars came charging back late in the match. In front of an open goal the sliding Greaves just failed to get on the end of a cross from Laws on the left in the 57th minute and then Cougars began their fightback when Clevie Campbell turned and shot just wide of a post.

St. George's also lost the influential Herbie Bascome during a critical period, twisting a leg after dribbling through the middle in the 68th minute.

St. George's: T.Hall; A.Todd, P.Bailey, Q.Francis, G.Foggo; H.Bascome (D.Smith 69min), M.Outerbridge, C.Greaves; J.Laws, D.Whitfield, M.Simmons. Dev.

Cougars: L.Place; T.James, D.Durrant, C.Azhar, M.Dill; D.Russell, W.Salaam, J.Salaam, T.Burgess (P.Simmons 74min), P.Clarke, C.Campbell.

Referee: Rex Osborne Men of match: Gregg Foggo (St. George's), Dale Russell (Cougars).