Devonshire Colts 0

Devonshire Cougars 3

Brothers Kwame and Tumaini Steede performed their own rendition of 'All in the Family' at Police Field yesterday as they accounted for three unanswered goals that gave league champions Devonshire Cougars maximum points against a dogged Devonshire Colts.

While the final scoreline would suggest a Cougars blow-out, in truth Colts put up a valiant effort after falling behind early to Tumaini Steede's precision header and with better finishing might easily have come away with at least a share of the spoils.

"No disrespect to Cougars ... but I think the scoreline was probably a little flattering. When you look at the context of the game they scored their opportunities while we didn't," said Colts coach Ray Jones.

"They got one up on us early and we had two good opportunities to get back into the match but didn't put them away."

Cougars coach Shawn Smith felt his team was fortunate to dodge a few bullets, particularly in the first half when Colts veteran forward Quincy Aberdeen had the ball cleared off the line and Ryan Nesbitt inexplicably scuffed a golden opportunity inches from the goaline.

"I thought we were fortunate because Colts had some decent scoring chances," Smith said. "They had some good chances but did not capitalise on them and I don't think the final scoreline reflects their performance." Cougars had to wait until the latter stages of the match before finally killing off Colts' hopes of a revival, with captain Kwame Steede netting his 14th and 15th goals of the season to put the result beyond doubt.

"Eventually when we pressed forward late in the game we opened up at the back and they capitalised on it," Jones said.

Overall, Smith said he was pleased with his team's performance on the day and even happier not to concede a goal on the road.

"I thought the shut-out was more important for us as it gives us momentum going into the final (this week's Martonmere Cup)," he added.

Colts were made to pay early after a slow start when Tumaini Steede outleapt the defence and nodded home Raymond Beach's cross from the right.

But the home team displayed character by nearly grabbing an equaliser as Aberdeen and Nesbitt both went agonisingly close.

Cougars always looked threatening on the quick break, however, with the Steede brothers, Beach and Domico Coddington pulling all the strings up front.

Beach, who had a hand in two of his team's goals, was unlucky not to get one himself just before the half when his header came back off the woodwork.

Colts upped the tempo when play restarted and for long spells looked the better team despite losing defender Marvin Williams to a dislocated right knee.

The home team's best chance of the half fell to striker Aljame Zuill who steered a free header wide when well placed.

And Zuill's miss ultimately proved costly as Kwame Steede netted a late brace to extend his remarkable, early season goal-scoring spree.

The Big Cats will now put their Martonmere Cup title on the line against PHC Zebras in Sunday's Remembrance Day final at Somerset Cricket Club.

Devonshire Colts: K.Bean, J.Butterfield, J.Williams, R.Purnell, P.Anderson, C.Hill (W.Ming, 79 mins), D.Williams, Q.Aberdeen, R.Nesbitt (O.Ray, 90 mins), M.Williams (J.Darrell, 50 mins), A.Zuill.

Devonshire Cougars: R.Brangman, J.Butterfield, D.Cox, K.Franks, J.Deshield, A.Gibbons, D.Coddington (L.Brangman, 90 mins), R.Robinson (K.Goddard, 82 mins), K.Steede, R.Beach, T.Steede (I.Mallory, 82 mins).

Yellow cards: R.Purnell (Colts); R.Brangman (Cougars).

Men of the match: P.Anderson (Colts); K.Steede (Cougars).

Referee: Richard Knight.