The stormy weather that had battered Bermuda before the start of this match seemed to have got to the North Village players who made heavy weather of what should have been an easy contest.

The title favourites had substitutes Sergio Goater and Jamaul Boyles to thank for their victory over newly-promoted Cougars after their team-mates had wasted chance after chance.

Although Cougars' goalie Ricardo Brangman had a fine game many of his saves were made with his feet with the home side shooting at the 'keeper rather than picking their spot.

Cougars began brightly before Village settled into their passing game.

A neat chipped pass on 11 minutes from Dwight Warren found the head of Kentoine Jennings whose diving header was gathered at the second attempt by Brangman.

A minute later Kevin Jennings became the first Village striker to blast at Brangman's legs, which must have been black and blue after the punishment they received throughout this encounter.

A fine long-range strike from Kevin Jennings hit the post and the same player played the return pass in a neat one two with Kentoine Jennings who blasted at the keeper.

Tafari Outerbridge was unmarked when the ball broke to him but Brangman came to the rescue again and kept the ball out.

A rare chance for Cougars' striker Heys Wolffe could have put the visitors ahead just before half time but his shot was beaten out. And shortly after the restart Mark Smith's shot found the net for the visitors only for it to be ruled offside.

But Village's defence looked assured for the most part - it was the home side's wasteful front line which were giving stand-in coach Kenny Thompson the headaches. At half time he replaced Marlon Dill with Sergio Goater - a move which paid off 15 minutes later as Goater pounced from close range after the visitor's defence dithered.

Ten minutes before the end Randy Spence got to the byline and cut the ball back for Jamual Boyles to put away and seal the result for Village, even if it left Thompson far from satisfied.

He said: "Overall it wasn't of a high quality. We were clearly the dominant team, but we made life difficult because we didn't put away the easy chances we had created.

"We have a lot of improving to do -- the overall quality as well as in front of goal.

"The fact that two substitutes came on and scored the goals speaks volumes for those people that started the match and didn't take their chances.'' However Thompson said he wouldn't be rushing into making wholesale changes for next week's game against Somerset Trojans.

He said: "We have to keep in mind that sometimes these things happen and maybe we have to give players the opportunity to regain themselves. "The defence is very strong, we didn't give much away. We were afraid Cougars might create one chance and take it.'' Cougars assistant coach Albert Smith said: "We didn't play to our full potential. I think match fitness had a good part to play in that.

"But they gave a good performance and this game was a good way to judge how far we have come and where we have to go.

"Our goalkeeper had a superb game. There's a few things we have to work on.

Village are match fit and it will take us a few games to get where they are but in the long run we will be all right.'' North Village: Z.Hendrickson, J.Thomas, R.Spence, D.Thomas, K.Binns, Keith Jennings (J.Boyles, 75 mins), M.Dill (S.Goater, 45 mins), Kentione Jennings, Kevin Jennings, T.Outerbridge (Q.Paynter, 87 mins), D.Warren. Devonshire Cougars: R.Brangman, S.Coddington, S.Smith, J.Salaam, J.Deshields, L.Durham, D.Brangman (K.Saltus, 74 mins), K.Goodard, P.Clarke (T.Smith, 65 mins), M.Smith (S.Hewey, 65 mins), H.Wolffe Referee: Calvin Simons Yellow cards: S.Coddington (Cougars) Men of the match: Kimandi Binns (Village), Ricardo Brangman (Cougars) More soccer on page 32