Devonshire Cougars 3

North Village 1

Losing finalists to champions Cougars in the Martonmere Cup a year ago, North Village will not be making any further appearances in the competition this year after last night's surprise defeat at BAA Field.

Cougars now advance from Group A with PHC into the semi-finals.

Goals by Mark Smith, Alan Minors and Raymond Beach tore the heart out of a Village squad who were unable to settle down and find their rhythm at any time during the game.

Village were so inept going forward that Cougars' goalkeeper Ricardo Brangman will probably not enjoy an easier match between the posts throughout the entire season - the only shot getting past him being a consolation penalty right at the end by Michael Hansey after player-coach Shawn Smith had fouled.

Cougars grabbed a 1-0 lead after 35 minutes when striker Minors' defence-splitting ball saw Smith race towards goal and slam the ball home past the advancing Dwayne Adams.

That goal ended a dull, undistinguished period with majority of play sandwiched between the two penalty areas, although Village did manage to hold a slight territorial edge.

Village coach Scott Morton voiced his disapproval before the match over the poor condition of the ground, which was in need of mowing. But even he would have agreed that it didn't contribute to his team's poor performance.

While Cougars struggled going forward during the first half, things changed when play re-started with hard-working midfielder Kwame Steede and Beach combining to provide Minors with a shot which he fired home from 15 yards after 49 minutes.

With the 2-0 lead, Cougars grew in confidence and Village were torn apart, forced to play second-fiddle for the rest of the game.

Cougars floored their opponents completely after 66 minutes when Minors provided the spadework that saw Beach finish sharply, slamming the ball home from 12 yards following a quick counter attack.

Village managed some isolated raids that saw substitute Clay Smith direct a ball right at goalkeeper Brangman and Kaiwon Dill place another shot wide, but by now the result was never in doubt.

Cougars continued to dominate with Beach hitting a shot just over from 16 yards after 78 minutes and substitute Jarizhno Simmons watching in agony as his thunderous drive was blocked by Adams after 85 minutes.

Village were saved from an embarrassing shut-out after Hansey scored his penalty but there was no denying that Cougars deserved more than a two-goal triumph.

Devonshire Cougars: R.Brangman; D.Brangman, S.Smith, O.Butterfield, J.DeShields; K.Steede, M.Smith, D.Eve (S.Coddington, 73 mins), D.Trott; R.Beach, A.Minors (J.Simmons, 82 mins). Subs not used: W.Salaam, K.Saltus, M.Vashon. Booking - O.Butterfield.

North Village: D.Adams; J.Thomas, M.Hansey, D.Jennings, S.DeShields; J.Boyles, D.Coddington (J.Davis, 40 mins), T.Outerbridge (C.Castle, 76 mins); K.Dill, D.Warren, S.Goater (C.Smith, 65 min). Subs not used: C.Augustus, L.Marshall.

Booking: T.Outerbridge (Village).

Referee: George O'Brien.

Men of the match: Kwame Steede (Cougars); Michael Hansey (Village).