Dandy Town remained firmly on course for a first league championship in three seasons after comprehensively brushing aside fellow title contenders Devonshire Cougars at the Den yesterday.

A first-half Mark Smith own goal coupled with second-half strikes from Seyoum Tuzo and veteran forward Carlos Smith not only ensured Town left the ground with their unbeaten record intact, but also put them firmly in the driver's seat heading down the final stretch.

Yesterday's result allowed the Hornets to regain sole possession of first place by a single point over nearest rivals Cougars and Boulevard ? and it's a lead that can be extended to four with a win over Somerset Eagles on Wednesday night at BAA Field.

The visitors couldn't have asked for a better start to this top-of-the-table clash, Smith providing Town with an unlikely third-minute lead when he redirected Khano Smith's left-footed cross past Ricardo Brangman in his own goal before either team had settled into any sort of rhythm.

That early goal clearly rattled a Cougars side looking anything but championship material and without an answer to the sheer pace of Khano Smith down the left flank.

The towering striker again relied on his speed to get by Joshua Butterfield before providing a pass in the middle with which Tuzo just failed to connect. Jared Peniston then had Town's die-hard supporters gasping for breath when his fierce drive from an angle whistled in to the side netting.

Such was Town's early dominance, Cougars had to wait until the 15th minute before they managed a first sniff at goal, Smith firing wide from a distance.

Though both teams found chances hard to come by, Town maintained a slight edge over their hosts in every department with captain Lionel Furbert hustling in midfield alongside Carlos Smith while the back quartet of Maurice Lowe, Chris Anderson, Kingsley Mundy and Randy Swan held firm, often frustrating Cougars' strike duo of Heys Wolfe and Raymond Beach who for the most part were kept in check.

Shortly after Town 'keeper Jason Smith received treatment for a knock to the head suffered in a challenge with Beach, Khano Smith ? now playing on the right ? sped by his marker and supplied a cross to the middle which was cut out by Brangman as Peniston moved in the for the kill.

When play resumed after the break, the visitors continued to take the match to their opponents with Chris Anderson confidently venturing into attack to get off a thunderous drive from long range. Tuzo then brought off the save of the match from Brangman with an equally powerful tracer from an angle that was too hot for the 'keeper to collect.

But there was no denying Tuzo from finally getting his name on to the scoresheet and Town doubling their lead in the 59th minute. And again Khano Smith had a say in the goal, this time the national team striker bursting down the left side and slipping a pass into the box that was drilled home by the fleet-footed Tuzo.

Their noses bloodied, Cougars reverted from search and destroy to damage control with Domico Coddington dropping deep to assist in defence while Town, with their tails up, threatened to make things real ugly.

During a rare quick Cougars raid on goal, captain Kwame Steede shot into the side netting, leaving three of his team-mates fuming inside the box. Cougars then inserted former Hornet Kris Martin and live-wire forward Shaki Minors into their attack in a desperate bid to get things going up front.

But it all proved to no avail as Carlos Smith bravely sacrificed his health to head the ball over the advancing Brangman and finally put Cougars out of their misery.

"This was big time!" exclaimed jubilant Town coach Devar Boyles afterwards. "This was a win that we needed, prepared for and earned. All the elements required for a good performance we saw today.

"It's definitely too early to begin celebrating but this win provides us with a mathematical advantage."

Devonshire Cougars: R.Brangman, J.Butterfield, J.DeShields, S.Smith, G.Butterfield (K.Martin, 58 mins), M.Smith (S.Minors, 67 mins), K.Steede, K.Goddard, D.Coddington, H.Wolfe, R.Beach.J.Smith, K.Mundy, M.Lowe, C.Anderson, D.Lawler, R.Swan, L.Furbert, J.Peniston (L.Dill, 81 mins), C.Smith (R.Tucker, 78 mins), S.Tuzo (K.Butterfield, 81 mins), K.Smith.J.DeShields, K.Steede (Cougars); C.Anderson (Town). D.Coddington (Cougars); M.Lowe/K.Smith (Town).

Lyndon Raynor.