Dev. Cougars 2 St. George's 0

Cowboy painters would have supplied better finishes for 83 minutes of this bottom of the table clash.

And to be honest a goalless draw would have probably been a fair result as neither really deserved maximum points at Devonshire Rec. last night.

But such is the level of inconsistency in the Premier Division this season that Raymond Beach's 83rd minute effort coupled with substitute Alan Minors' last gasp strike was enough to propel Cougars up to fourth place.

St. George's, on the other hand, appear doomed unless they can find someone to turn the chances they do get into goals - just three all season spells out why they will probably be making a swift return from whence they came.

The game, played in a gusty wind, started brightly enough. But anyone who thought Mark Smith's curling free-kick which struck the angle of bar and post after five minutes was the signal for action all the way would have been sorely mistaken.

Beach feigned to go left, then right outside the St. George's box shortly after, but 'keeper Troy Hall got down well to save with his legs. At the other end, Ricardo Brangman was relieved when his defenders came to his rescue after fluffing Herbie Bascome's free-kick.

U-Roy Fox tried from long distance but Brangman was alive to the threat and then Hall was comfortably behind Kwame Steede's effort.

David Signor should probably have done better with his effort for St. George's after 25 minutes. With time and space after being found on the edge of the box by Kyle Williams he dragged his shot wide when he should have at least brought a save out of the 'keeper.

Maxwell Dill, by far and away the best performer on the night, almost caught out Hall with an outrageous effort from just inside the St. George's half but it grazed the top of the crossbar.

Cougars' Kori Goddard saw a shot turned around for a corner after the break and from the dead ball Mark Smith conspired to miss with a free-header.

One thing that can be said about St. George's is that they do not give in easily, and a thrusting run down the right by Signor may have brought greater reward had he not been unceremoniously stopped in his tracks by Wendell Swan.

Despite St. George's' protests, referee George O'Brien, who yellow carded Swan, gave a free-kick on the right hand edge of the area and not a penalty.

Mark Smith's snap-shot might have broke the deadlock in the 68th minute, but Beach's head got in the way and it looped harmlessly into the 'keeper's arms.

Then with all the goal to aim at Minors fired the ball at the feet of the only opponent between him and glory and with that the game seemed destined for a draw.

But an incisive run down the left by Heys Wolfe saw the ball pulled back from the byline to Beach, and although you would have banked on him hitting someone in the stands from six yards the way the night had gone so far he slid the ball into the back of the net.

Minors rubbed salt in St. George's wounds with the last kick of the game - firing home despite the desperate challenges of two defenders.

Dev. Cougars: R.Brangman, S.Smith, C.Smith, W.Swan, M.Dill, K.Steede (K.Smith, 26 mins), H.Wolfe, K.Goddard (W.Mills, 80 mins), D.Eve (A.Minors, 63 mins), M.Smith, R.Beach.

St. George's: T.Hall, U.Fox, D.Signor, N.Paynter, M.Outerbridge, D.Wright, E.Signor, K.Williams, H.Bascome (K.Butterfield, 80 mins), G.Foggo (D.Bailey, 46 mins), W.Pitt.

Booked: W.Swan (Cougars); N.Paynter (St. George's).

Men of the match: M.Dill (Cougars); T.Hall (St. George's).

Referee: G.O'Brien.

In First Division action, a double from substitute Brenton Harris helped Southampton Rangers rout Paget 5-0. Alfred Wolfe, Cory Broadbent and Reggie Lowe also scored.