St. David’s 0

Devonshire Cougars 3 <$>

Heavy favourites Cougars were expected to over-run their opponents with ease at Lord’s yesterday but hosts St. David’s, bottom of the Premier Division tables, proved to be a handful for the new table-toppers before succumbing in the second half.

After a scoreless first half which was undistinguished and lacking enterprising play by both teams, Cougars pulled away with three goals when play re-started with Domico Coddington scoring first after 69 minutes, skipper Kwame Steede after 77 minutes (penalty) and again after 80 minutes.

A steady drizzle may have concerned both teams but it wasn’t any excuse for the often dreadfully low level of play that existed for majority of the contest.

Punchless St. David’s just didn’t have the thrust up front to unlock the fairly tight Cougars’ defence in the opening half when chances were virtually non-existent for the home team while Cougars, playing without star striker Raymond Beach, had two scoring chances, both coming from Coddington.

The first came after 13 minutes when his blast from 22 yards was sensationally saved by Chris Douglas in the St. David’s goal, then six minutes later Coddington watched in agony as another good strike was cleared off the goal line by a defender.

Coddington though muffed a chance to put his team ahead after 32 minutes when a cross by Randy Robinson saw him head poorly, his effort going a few feet wide of the post from close in.

A stronger drizzle in the second half saw the teams struggle harder to make real headway, but the first to settle down were the home side when substitute Dejuan Paynter, who had just come on for Ankoma (Toast) Cannonier, saw his deflected cross sail inches outside of the post after 58 minutes.

Making progress for the first time in the game, the pesky St. David’s squad followed this up with Otis Minors’ angled shot from 15 yards rocketing just wide of the far post.

Other than another good effort from Minors after 75 minutes which also went wide the home side were seldom able to threaten.

But Cougars were to see some sustained pressure produce dividends.

Signs that the opening goal was imminent came after 68 minutes when substitute Shaki Minors forced Douglas in the St. David’s goal to brilliantly dive to palm his fierce shot from 16 yards away for a corner. But a minute later Coddington struck with a dipping cross from the right stunningly ended up in the roof of the goal.

Cougars took a 2-0 lead eight minutes later when Coddington was fouled by Javon Minors and skipper Steede converted from the spot kick.

Steede then followed up with the third goal three minutes later, steering home a cross from the busy Randy Robinson.

St. David’s: <$>C.Douglas; J.Minors, K.Franks, A.Lugo, D.Butterfield, A.Russell, C.Gardia, C.Richardson (J.Lovell, 50 min), Ank. Cannonier (D.Paynter, 57 min), Ang. Cannonier (J.Woodley, 70 min), O.Minors.

Cougars:<$> C.Darrell; J.Butterfield, S.Perinchief, I.Mallory, J.DeShields, M.Smith (A.Gibbons, 54 min), R.Robinson, K.Steede, K.Tucker, D.Coddington (K.Goddard, 83 min), R.Baker.

Men of the match: Chris Douglas (St. David’s); Domico Coddinigton (Cougars).

Referee:<$> Anthony Mouchette.

Cards:<$> None.