In taking a hard-earned and vital point off Premier Division leaders Dandy Town on Monday night, Devonshire Cougars again proved that they have determination and character in abundance.

The only remaining question is: do the big cats have what it takes to go the distance and clinch a maiden league championship?

Cougars coach Andrew Bascome seems to think so ? even in the absence of several key figures from his squad.

The Devonshire club have been without banned trio Raymond Beach, Heys Wolfe and Omar Butterfield and injured striker Aljame Zuill and starting ?keeper Ricardo Brangman since late January.

But that hasn?t derailed their championship drive.

On the contrary, it seems to have elevated the team?s confidence to a higher level with certain players rising from under the shadows of their more publicised team-mates and carrying the club on their shoulders.

One such player is defender Jeremy DeShields, who notched Cougars? vital equaliser two minutes from time on Monday night to earn the side a 2-2 draw.

?I was very happy for him (DeShields) and for the team because once you coach the players you begin to learn more about them and understand them,? said coach Bascome.

?And I know what football can do for people. It can lift you and also help through life because you are not getting paid. When you accomplish little milestones it really makes you feel good about yourself.

?So I was happy all around and it was fitting that it fell to someone like him (DeShields) because that will only encourage him and the team as a group.?

The result also went a long way towards healing old wounds stemming from Bascome?s public criticism of several team members who he labelled as ?prima donnas?.

?That was just something which was said that has now been addressed,? Bascome explained. ?But I know people will always have their own opinions and I think we have all grown from it and moved on. I guess you can see that in our performances and it?s pleasing to me because this is a team effort.

?If you can get a bunch of players prepared to carry your ideas and give you a chance then you can do anything with them. And I think I have won their favour and relationships on and off field are getting better.?

Since his arrival at the Den late last season, Bascome has been put to task trying to nurture the talents of a young Cougars squad.

?When you are dealing with a lot of talent like that at a young age, sometimes they need to be reminded to be humble in this game,? he added. ?Football is like life. You don?t know what?s going to come around the corner. But you have to try and prepare yourself as best you can.?

Bascome himself remains on course to pull off what would be another outstanding milestone in his coaching career ? recording a hat-trick of league titles in his very first year on the job at three different clubs.

In 1992 he coached Boulevard to league glory in his very first year at the helm of the team and repeated the feat in 2001 with Hornets.

Now in his first full season with Cougars, the big cats are within striking distance of a maiden Premier Division title.

?That would be nice,? said Bascome with a smile.

With three matches to go in the season, Cougars have to face Boulevard and Somerset Trojans at home before closing out their campaign against Somerset Eagles at White Hill Field.

Town, who have a superior goal difference of plus 14 and a one point lead over Cougars, take on Southampton Rangers on Sunday at St.John?s Field but face tricky away fixtures against Blazers and a North Village side that has enjoyed the better of them on several occasions this season.

Bascome has now encouraged his charges to remain focused as the race for the league championship is about to go down to the wire.

?We just have to stay focused on the path that?s ahead of us because it?s not going to be easy . . . you can?t underestimate anybody,? he warned.

The coach also hasn?t forgotten the thrashing his team suffered at the hands of Trojans last November and reckons playing against relegation threatened Eagles will also be a big task.

?Those are two games that we will have to come prepared for,? he said. ?The championship is going to go right down to the wire and I don?t take any opposition lightly because every team has a heart desire. And you can?t underestimate that because it provides them with motivation and inspiration.

?That?s why we have to make sure we are prepared and keep up the effort in training. Boulevard can rise to the occasion at any time because they just love to play football while as you know Somerset (Trojans) put five in us (5-1). But I?m sure the players are looking forward to the return match . . . I certainly am.

?But everybody still has something to play for. And we still have to play against two teams battling to stay up top (Trojans and Eagles) and we have to go through them.?