Devonshire Cougars 3 Paget 2

Liam Evans scored a spectacular winning free kick as Devonshire Cougars beat Paget Lions 3-2 at the Den last night.

With the match into added time, Evans stepped up to hit a spectacular drive into the top right corner, which gave Paget goalkeeper Jade Morrissey no chance.

Cougars coach Jensen Rogers had mixed emotions but was happy with victory.

“It was a bit frustrating as a few lapses almost cost us the game but it is still a learning curve,” Rogers said.

“Overall, I want to congratulate the team for keeping their heads in the game and Liam for scoring the winner.”

The Lions sounded an early warning when Xave Smith was put through but his firm drive struck the side netting. Cougars responded immediately with Paget goalkeeper Jade Morrissey called upon to palm away Canizhae Nesbitt’s left-footed inswinging corner.

Paget would open the scoring from a positive and patient build-up in the fourteenth minute. Midfielder, Ajani Lee collected the ball before he looked up and placed an inch-perfect pass for veteran Shakir Smith to run onto and slot into the bottom left corner of the Cougars goal past the advancing Daniel Johnson.

Cougars found the equaliser near half time when Samario Valasse-Paul got off a firm drive, which Morrissey did well to palm away but only into the path of Drewonde Bascome who blasted the loose ball into the net from close range.

The Devonshire unit survived a scare on the stroke of half time when Evans played a ball inside that was miscontrolled, which allowed Paget captain Diaje Hart to slip in only to be brought down from behind. Johnson got the better of the captain making two foot saves from a twice taken spot kick.

The second half started in a constant drizzle. Domico Coddington snaked his way down the right flank and squared but Valasse-Paul tried a sneaky back-heel, which goalkeeper Morrissey jumped on at the last minute injuring himself in the process.

Cougars would take the lead in the 60th minute when Valasse-Paul’s hard and low cross was turned into his own net by defender Kyjah Simons, who was beaten for pace on the slippery surface. Minutes later, Lee’s right footed scorcher missed the upright by inches.

The Lions would equalise in the 75th minute when a through ball to veteran Smith forced goalkeeper Johnson to leave his post only for the striker to keep his composure in sidestepping the custodian and slot into the empty net.

Paget were reduced to ten men moments later when the fleet-footed Xave Smith, who had been a menace throughout the night with his dribbling skills, was shown a straight red card for serious foul play.

Shakir Smith should have put the Lions ahead when he was on the end of his son Zion Smith’s low cross but he would slice wide with the goal at his mercy.

Then Evans stepped up with the winner with nearly the last kick off the game

Scorers

Devonshire Cougars: Bascome 36, Simons og 60, Evans 90+4

Paget Lions: S Smith 14, 75

Teams

Devonshire Cougars: D Johnson, C Burns, L Evans, J Thomas, D Scraders, Zari Simmons, M Thomas, S Valasse-Paul, D Coddington, C Nesbitt, D Bascome. Substitutes: J Bell, O Smith, Z Simmons, N Carmichael, D Lambert, J Darrell, C Brangman.

Paget Lions: J Morrissey, M Wade, R DeShields, N Carpenter, K Simons, K Leverock, S Lee, X Smith, D Hart, S Smith, D Dill. Substitutes: J Carpenter, X Smith, K Richardson, D Joell, K Darrell, N Armstrong, O DeShields. Sent off: Xave Smith

Referee: T Derry (Trinidad)