Devonshire Cougars 1 Dandy Town 3

David Jones Jr came off the bench to notch a second-half brace for Dandy Town to climb to the top of the Premier Division with victory over Devonshire Cougars at Devonshire Rec last night.

Jones, who replaced Kamali Davis in the 76th minute, scored his goals in the 82nd and 84th, after captain Tomiko Goater had given his team the lead in the second. Cougars got their consolation from Jayori Fox in the 85th.

The victory moved Jarreau Hayward’s team to the apex of the standings with 28 points, a point ahead of PHC, who face Young Men’s Social Club tomorrow.

Jones, who has nine league goals to his name this season, was pleased to have an effect as a substitute.

“It was important for us to get this victory,” Jones told The Royal Gazette.

“I feel like we’re still in the chase for the title so when I came on I was able to make an impact.

“Sometimes it’s strange starting on the bench, but the coach had a vision and it came together perfectly and I can’t say I couldn’t ask for anything more.

“The team is looking good, at this point in time we need some of the teams we’re competing with for the title to slip up.

“Even if we win all our games, we need one of them to definitely slip up. But we’re not worried about that, we’re trying to focus on winning.”

Goater gave Town an early lead after a long ball from Yeferson Ramirez was laid for the captain by Nizigh Spence.

Jahquil Hill ensured that Town had the lead at the break when he blocked Domico Coddington's effort out for a corner.

Cougars could have equalised in the 51st if Kydan Browne had connected with a pass from substitute Chae Brangman.

Coddington forced his way through the Town defence in the 59th, pulled the trigger and his shot went wide.

Jones settled the match with his brace in a space of two minutes, before Fox pulled one back for Cougars.

SCORERS

Devonshire Cougars: Fox 85

Dandy Town: Goater 2, Jones 82, 84

TEAMS

Devonshire Cougars (4-3-3): C Knight 6 — T Tucker 6, K Millett 6, J Thomas 6, J Wilson-Butterfield 6 (sub: C Burns, 76) — Zari Simmons (sub: O Smith, 89) 6, K Browne 6, D Coddington 6 — J Fox 6, M Mills 6 (sub: Zion Simmons, 89), C Albouy 5 (sub: C Brangman, 41min 6). Booked: Albouy

Dandy Town (4-3-3): J Hill 6 — M Joell 6, E Moore 6, Y Ramirez 6, T Webb 6 — D Daniels 6, N Spence 6 (sub: T Smith, 79) L Outerbridge 7 — K Davis 6 (sub: D Jones, 76), E Swan 6 (sub: J Furbert, 71), T Goater 7 (sub: Z Smith, 79). Substitutes not used: T Place, A Harvey, E Outerbridge. Booked: T Smith

Referee: A Francis.