Paget 3 Devonshire Cougars 1

Paget Lions fought back from an early setback to secure victory over Devonshire Cougars at White Hill Field yesterday, all but confirming their Premier Division status next season.

Paget forward Xion Smith scored his first senior, while Nelson Carpenter and Diaje Hart also found the net after an early Chae Brangman penalty had put Cougars ahead. The win means Paget are five points clear of the relegation zone and Social Club, who have two games left to play.

Captain Diaje Hart was pleased with his side’s win.

“This was a team effort,” Hart said. “We fought hard and got through it with the lion spirit, as we always do. Every game is a challenge and it hasn't been my best season individually. “However, I am pleased with my contribution today.”

Cougars started brightly from the first whistle, and benefited from a moment of goalkeeping madness by Paget goalkeeper Jade Morrissey. He tried to come out to punch away a lofted pass by Chae Brangman into Jayori Fox, but the Cougars forward got his head to it first. Morrissey clattered into him and caught his nose, thus forcing referee Ken Pennyfeather to point to the spot.

Brangman stepped up and slotted the resulting penalty under the despairing dive of Morrissey to give Cougars a deserved lead. They had chances to double their advantage when Fox had an effort blocked by Rakeem Deshields and captain Zari Simmons struck wide a few minutes later.

The away side suffered an early setback when an injured Omeek Smith was replaced by Christian Albouy midway through the first half. Paget slowly found their feet and created their first big chances in the final minutes of the first half. Ajani Lee spun out of two challenges in midfield and played a cutting ball through for Delray Rawlins, who laid off for Xave Smith, but the attacker missed from just inside the area.

Kion Knights beat two defenders a minute later and cut back for Delray Rawlins, whose effort was blocked by the sliding Troy Tucker. Cougars responded in kind when Jayori Fox found substitute Albouy but Morrissey made a smart reflex save.

Paget found the equaliser their endeavour deserved just before half-time. Xion Smith was allowed to come inside from the right flank by Jahzi Wilson-Butterfield and then struck a powerful shot into the near post past Cougars keeper Q'Shai Darrell.

Cougars started brightly early in the second half, with both Simmons and Christian Albouy having efforts from inside the area cleared by the Paget defence but they would be punished for their missed opportunities when Xave Smith squared for Rawlins to lay off to Carpenter, who finished under Darrell to give Paget their first lead.

Hart scored the goal of the game just before the hour to give Paget the vital cushion. He rode the challenge of D'Ari Coddington before whipping a majestic strike off the far post and past a motionless Darrell.

Cougars had everything but conviction in the final third for large periods of this game and had further chances to eat into the Paget lead. Fox cut inside from the left and had an effort with intent blocked by Julian Carpenter. Then Coddington crossed for Justin Bell to lay off for Brangman to strike tamely at Morrissey.

GOALS

Paget: Xion Smith 42, N Carpenter 54, Hart 58

Devonshire Cougars: Brangman 3 pen

TEAMS

Paget Lions (4-2-3-1): J Morrissey 6 — K Knights 6, R Deshields 7, J Carpenter 6, S Smith 6 (sub: J Stovel, 85min) — A Lee 7, N Carpenter 6 — Xion Smith 7, D Hart 6, Xave Smith 5 (sub: K Richardson, 69 5) — D Rawlins 5 (sub: O Tucker, 90+2). Substitutes not used: S Bean, K Simons, T Davis, A Butterfield, R Russell. Booked: Deshields

Devonshire Cougars (4-3-3): Q Darrell 5 — T Tucker 6, J Thomas 5, D’Ari Coddington 6 (sub: M Thomas 73), J Wilson Butterfield 6 (sub: L Millett, 60 5) — Z Simmons 6, Domico Coddington 6, C Burns 5 — O Smith 3 (sub: C Albouy, 18 5; sub: J Bell 73), C Brangman 6, J Fox 6. Substitutes not used: Zion Simmons.

Referee: K Pennyfeather (Antigua and Barbuda)