Devonshire Cougars 0 North Village 2

Jai Bean and Owen Botelho scored second-half goals as North Village recorded their third straight win of the season, overcoming Devonshire Cougars in a Premier Division encounter at Devonshire Rec last night.

Bean netted his third goal of the season in the 74th minute, before Botelho registered his first league goal three minutes from time.

The victory moved Village to the top of the standings with nine points, three ahead of champions Dandy Town, who play St George’s Colts tomorrow.

Che’Kai Caisey had the first chance to put Village ahead in the seventh when he went for goal from the right, but his effort was punched back into play by Jaquan Darrell, with Jalen Harvey going wide from the rebound.

Cougars had a great opportunity in the fifteenth when Christian Albouy went face to face with Detre Bell, with the Village keeper coming up with a point-blank save.

Knory Scott could have given Village the lead if he had put more power into his header to get it past Darrell.

In the 36th, Justin Bell had his powerful shot saved by the Village keeper. On the other end, Bean had a chance for Village only to hurry his effort and send the ball over the bar.

To try to add some spark into his side, the Village coach made a double change in the 50th, taking out Khimo Harrison and Scott, replacing them with Taurean Manders as well as Manoj Paynter.

Detre Bell went airborne to deny Domico Coddington in the 59th as Cougars searched for a goal.

It was Village who went ahead with 16 minutes left in the match. Darrell tried to make amends for a poor goal kick by saving Botelho’s strike, but while he was on the floor, Bean pounced.

Seven minutes before the end, Charmari Burns almost found the equaliser for Cougars, but Bell made a good recovery to make a clean take. Village launched a counter and Bean put Paynter through, but his attempted cross was blocked out for a corner.

Great combination between Paynter and fellow substitute Anijahe Santos created an opportunity for Botelho to double the Village lead.

SCORERS

North Village: Bean 74, Botelho 87

TEAMS

Devonshire Cougars: J Darrell, Zari Simmons, Q Lambert, S Valasse-Paul, J Thomas, M Thomas, Zari Simmons, C Albouy, D Coddington, C Burns, J Bell.

North Village: D Bell, J Bean, K Scott, C Caisey, J Outerbridge, O Botelho, J Chapman, J Harvey, J Smith-DeShields, L Steede-Jackson, K Harrison

Referee: T Derry (Trinidad & Tobago).