Devonshire Colts 4 Devonshire Cougars 3

Midfielder Rahzir Smith-Jones came up clutch in the final minute of regular time to fire Devonshire Colts to a thrilling Dudley Eve derby victory over rivals Cougars at Bernard Park on Monday night.

Jones was on hand to tap in at the back post as the clock struck 90 minutes after talisman Chemarl Henry drove into acres of space on the left and pulled back for Diego Richardson to fire at Cougars keeper Chazz Knight. Knight spilt his initial save and Jones was unmarked at the back post to finish into an unguarded net.

Colts captain Jorj Dublin was delighted with the result but saw the good and bad in victory.

“We started off well but we got lethargic in the second half and they came back into it,” Dublin said.

“We need to work on that but it’s only the first game of the season.”

Colts controlled the first half, with Senoj Mitchell scoring twice just before the break. They created numerous chances in the early stages as Cougars struggled to live with their aggressive press and failed to slow the tempo down. Knight made three fantastic saves to keep the match level.

Cougars had their biggest chance of the first half when they bypassed the Colts press and Domico Coddington fed Justin Bell to force the first big save by goalkeeper Jaden Mills-Furbert.

Mitchell opened the scoring rather fortuitously after Jahzardae Samuels’ through ball was deflected into his path and he composed himself before firing low into the far corner past Knight six minutes before half time. He scored his second after brilliant skill by Henry to nutmeg defender Jecoa Thomas and pull back into the six-yard box, where Mitchell bundled in from a goalmouth scramble.

The second half was played at the tempo of a basketball game and Colts made it 3-0 within four minutes of the restart. Henry dribbled infield from the right and squared for Samuels to show quick feet on the edge of the box and fire a daisycutter through bodies and into the net.

Colts were forced to adjust their approach slightly after key fullback Daniel Ball suffered a serious lower leg injury. He was taken off by stretcher and transported by ambulance to the hospital.

That incident shocked Colts players and may have played a part in a stirring Cougars comeback. Their most flowing move of the night started with Samario Paul spreading for Zion Simmons on the left, who pulled back for Coddington. The veteran laid off perfectly for captain Zari Simmons to control and whip into the far corner past Mills-Furbert.

Then Paul showed amazing poise to slip in Coddington, who finished underneath the Colts keeper but the goal of the night came with the equaliser eight minutes from time. Colts failed to defend a free kick and Liam Evans struck a rasping drive from 30 yards out, which kissed the underside of the crossbar on its way in.

Both clubs went for the win in the final minutes but Cougars left themselves wide open at a critical stage. They allowed Henry the freedom of the park to perform his magic and find Smith-Jones for the winner.

Scorers

Dev Colts: Mitchell 39, 42; Samuels 49; Jones 90

Dev Cougars: Zari Simmons 58, Coddington 64, Evans 82

TEAMS

Devonshire Colts: J Mills-Furbert, J Dublin, J Paynter, J Samuels, D Richardson, S Mitchell, R Jones, C Henry, E Darrell, Z Burgess, D Ball. Substitutes: J Greaves, C Thompson, S Robinson, A Hart, T Eve, S Blair-Paynter, K Burch.

Devonshire Cougars: C Knight, Zari Simmons, D Coddington, D Cox, Zion Simmons, J Bell, C Brangman, S Paul, L Evans, J Thomas, C Burns. Substitutes: K Bean, C Albuoy, D Schraders, E Zuill, Q Lambert, D Johnson, M Mills.

Referee: T Derry (Trinidad)