Dev.Cougars 3 Som. Eagles 0

Cougars heaped more misery on punchless Eagles when they comprehensively defeated the last place visitors at Devonshire Rec.

The maximum points move Cougars up to second place in the Premier Division.

Two goals by Raymond Beach, one in the first half and one in the second, and another by Mark Smith, was sufficient to send the westenders back home with a good hiding.

But although they took three points Cougars initially made hard work of getting past their opponents and it took them 38 uninspiring minutes before they were able to gain the upper hand.

It was Beach who broke the deadlock, scoring from a sharp angle on the right after a pass from Devon Brangman.

Goalkeeper Adrian Burrows was expecting the striker to square the ball into the middle only to watch in agony as Beach steered it home from the left between the near post and past the `keeper who had moved off his goal line.

Eagles offered little in attack and Cougars' goalkeeper Lovintz Tota spent most of the half dealing only with isolated crosses.

With Eagles' attack inept, Cougars took the initiative for the rest of the half and it was no surprise to see them stretch their lead after 44 minutes with another goal from an acute angle.

This time Mark Smith teamed up with Beach down the right flank and the striker somehow got his shot between the post and a bewildered Burrows.

The pattern of play continued for the first 15 minutes of the second half with Heys Wolfe and Smith coming close with fierce shots that went into the side netting.

Wolfe had a good chance after 62 minutes when a lucky bounce put him through the defence, but with only substitute goalkeeper Marcel Dill to beat the forward fired his shot off him as the `keeper advanced off his goal line.

The appearance of Rodre Wilson and Darren Dowling as substitutes added bite to the Eagles attack and more openings began to come their way. After 63 minutes Wilson was unlucky when his header hit Tota in the chest and was cleared.

Before Eagles could get a goal of their own Beach finished off the scoring, tapping home a cross from substitute Yuseff Pitt after 71 minutes.

@SPagatenoindent:Devonshire Cougars: L.Tota; G.Butterfield (Y.Pitt, 69 mins), S.Smith, O.Butterfield, J.DeShields; W.Salaam, K.Steede, D.Brangman; H.Wolfe, M.Smith (A.Minors, 83 mins), R.Beach (M.Steede, 88 mins).

Somerset Eagles: A.Burrows (M.Dill, 45 mins); D.Woolridge (D.Dowling, 60 mins), D.Burgess, S.Simmons, A.Lambert; D.Binns, K.Simmons, M.Hunt; N.Smith, L.Crofton, S.Dill (R.Wilson, 60 mins).

Booked: D.Brangman, W.Salaam (Cougars); D.Binns (Eagles).

Men of the match: W.Salaam (Cougars); Sean Simmons (Eagles).

Referee: Anthony Mouchette.