Dev. Cougars 5 Dev. Colts 1

Village beware, the Cougars are coming!

In definitive style and with clinical finishing, that was the resounding message which Devonshire Cougars sent down to Bernard Park last night as they thrashed Devonshire rivals, Colts, 5-1 to move within two points of League leaders and defending champions North Village.

Perhaps inspired by their snazzy new all-white uniforms, Cougars set the tone early at Devonshire Rec., with a torrent of strikes on Colts goalie Khabir Dill within the first 20 minutes. Thus it was no surprise when the irrepressible Raymond Beach scored the first of his two goals in the 28th minute, smartly poking the ball home from inside the six-yard box.

Two more goals came before half-time. In the 36th minute, Kwame Steede waltzed through the middle unchecked to rendezvous with a cross from the left and smash it past Dill before Beach's booming boot, at the far post, put the icing on a dazzling play by Lovintz Tota.

Duping his marker just inside the half-way line, Tota flew up the right flank and unleashed a fabulous, curling cross that eluded everyone but Beach who finished superbly. That was 3-0 in the 38th minute and Colts' body language was telling.

For good measure, Cougars fired in two more goals in the second half, compliments of another blistering run by Tota (48 minutes) and Mark Smith in the 52nd minute.

"I am very pleased. We played well in every department tonight," said a delighted Cougars coach Albert Smith.

Colts had few shots on target. Their marksman Aljame Zuill was shut out, only finding success through a 69th-minute penalty when Jamel (Mouse) Smith was fouled.

Devonshire Colts: K.Dill, Jermel Belboda, M.Hollis (Jermaine Belboda, 45 mins), G.Gibbons, S.Waldron, K.Outerbridge, K.Simpson, M.Ray (P.Sampson, 68 mins), R.Evans, A.Zuill, J.Aberdeen (J.Smith, 48 mins).

Devonshire Cougars: R.Brangman, O.Butterfield, S.Smith (K.Swan, 68 mins), J.Deshields, D.Brangman, K.Steede, M.Smith (W.Salaam, 83 mins), L.Tota, K.Williams, R.Beach (Y.Pitt, 51 mins), H.Wolfe.

Booked: K.Williams (Cougars).

Men of the Match: L.Tota (Cougars); Jermel Belboda (Colts).

Referee: T.Mouchette.