N.Village 4 Dev. Cougars 1

The ultimate measure of a team is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and adversity. Such was exemplified by North Village yesterday during their 4-1 dismantling of Devonshire Cougars at Bernard Park.

Village, who endured a sombre opening half to the season by their own high standards, finally put things back into perspective with a convincing win which moved them back into the middle of the standings.

College student Ralph Bean Jr., Clay Smith, Vernon Tankard and Kevin Jennings all featured on the scoresheet for the home team, who were never really threatened by a Cougars side that depicted a picture of incoherence, suffering as they were from the absence of Raymond Beach and Craig Darrell.

Shaki Minors cushioned the blow for his team, who now find themselves reacquainted near the bottom of the table, with a late consolation goal.

"Finally we stuck to our game plan, this is what I like to see," said Village coach Scott Morton after the match. "This was an exhibition of the kind of soccer we know how to play.

"What added to the effort was definitely the inclusions of Ralph Bean Jr. and Jemeiko Jennings. They added more depth to our team, their mental contribution definitely generated and filtered throughout the team."

Village midfielder Jamaul Boyles served notice to his opponents and gave them an early indication of things to come after catching Cougars napping in the middle, but he could only hold his head in disbelief as his shot from six yards out soared high over the goal.

College student Bean, conjuring memories of his father with penetrative escapades at the core of Village's attack, broke the ice for his team in the 16th minute with a clinical finish, fending off two challenges before unleashing a low drive that beat Ricardo Brangman to his right.

Cougars tried desperately to respond to the challenge and midway through the half they should have been rewarded for their perseverance when referee Anthony Mouchette pointed to the spot as Maxwell Dill writhed on the pitch. Shawn Smith's spot-kick did well to beat Zane Hendrickson but not the upright.

Cougars were then made to pay dearly in the form of Clay Smith moments before the half when the striker demonstrated composure to beat 'keeper Brangman with a firm, low left-footed shot that nestled into the far, bottom corner.

From here, Village were in full flow and remained determined not to relinquish their hold on proceedings.

Tankard, also instrumental in the dissecting of Cougars, fired home Village's third goal after the restart just as Cougars were beginning a series of substitutions in a desperate bid to stop the rot - much to the displeasure of their faithful following after the omission of Mark Smith and Kori Goddard, who along with the usualy explosive Heys Wolfe, all had a quiet outings.

By now Cougars' spirit vividly reflected the overcast weather conditions on the day and with their hosts cruising along, it only remained to be seen just how wide the margin of victory would be.

Kevin Jennings added salt to the wound with his team's fourth from the penalty spot in the latter stages of the match after substitute Jemeiko Jennings was felled in the box.

In what would ultimately be the sole bright spot for the visitors, second half substitute Minors was on hand to steer home a Heys Wolfe cross from out on the left side, moments before the final whistle.

North Village: Z.Hendrickson, J.Thomas, R.Spence, K.Dill, Ken. Jennings, J.Boyles, T.Jennings, M.Hansey, (Jeh. Jennings, 73 mins), C.Smith, (Kev. Jennings, 78 mins), R.Bean Jr., (D.Warren), V.Tankard.

Dev. Cougars: R.Brangman, S.Smith, G.Butterfield, C.Smith, M.Dill, K.Steede, D.Eve, K.Goddard, (W.Salaam, 71 mins), H.Wolfe, (K.Smith, 78 mins), M.Smith, (A.Dill, 60 mins), J.Smith.

Bookings: K.Dill, T.Jennings (N.Village); C.Smith, R.Brangman, G.Butterfield (Cougars).

Men of the match: Ralph Bean Jr. (N.Village); Shawn Smith (Cougars).

Referee: Anthony Mouchette.