Devonshire Cougars 2 Dandy Town 1

Devonshire Cougars staged a dramatic fightback against Dandy Town thanks to 'super-subs' Lamont Brangman and Domico Coddington at a blustery Lords in the Premier's Dudley Eve Trophy.

Brangman and Coddington struck in quick succession late on yesterday for the Big Cats, who will now meet North Village in the next phase of the festive competition.

With strong winds swirling in from the sea end of the picturesque ground, blowing the ball around the pitch like a beach ball, any attempts at playing free-flowing football were rendered virtually pointless.

Consequently, the stuff served up by both teams was devoid of any real 'bums off seats' entertainment until teenage talent Nahki Wells sparked some life into proceedings, starting and finishing off a fine move to hand Hornets the lead on 74 minutes.

On the half-way line, with his back to goal, Wells neatly sprayed a pass to Lashun Dill on the right flank who set off on one of his trademark bursts, entering the box via a neat one-two with the youngster.

Dill then delivered a low, hard cross that avoided Cougars' trailing markers to find his new national team colleague unattended to divert the ball into the net from close range.

Just as had been the case in the first period, clear-cut chances were few and far between after the break, with both teams struggling to string more than a few passes together when they had finally mastered the ball under any kind of control.

But inspired substitutions by coach Shawn Smith gave Cougars the attacking lift they had been searching for with Brangman and Coddington entering fray.

The former made amends for fluffing an earlier opportunity, when he levelled on 84 minutes by placing an angled shot past Mikkail Crockwell from inside the box.

Coddington then completed the comeback with a mazy dribble before he rounded the keeper and slotted home into the empty net to seal Cougars' win. A relieved Smith admitted the high winds made his side's passing game almost redundant but praised his players' perseverance.

"We tried to play football despite the conditions but it was almost impossible at times," he said. "Even when the ball was on the deck it was affected by the wind and it was very difficult for the players to bring the ball under control.

"I thought the substitutes made a difference and injected some life into us. It's always important to win your first game in the Dudley Eve and this victory should boost morale for us. It was our first game after quite a long break so the result was pleasing."

Cougars will meet Village on Boxing Day at the Wellington Oval at 2.30 p.m, while PHC take on Hornets at Devonshire Rec. on December 28 at 9 p.m. In the First Division's Dudley Eve competition Hamilton Parish beat St. David's 4-3 on penalties. The score had been 2-2 after normal time.

Devonshire Cougars: C.Darrell, R.Robinson, K.Franks, D.Cox, J.Butterfield, M.Steede, O.Butterfield, C.Casey, K.Tucker, K.Steede, T.Steede. Substitutes: L.Brangman, K.Goddard, D.Coddington, M.Doucet, M.Steede.

Dandy Town: M.Crockwell, E.Signor, K.Lattan, A.Lowe, D.Zuill, M.Parsons, J.Simons, H.Wolfe, N.Wells, L.Dill, A.Russell.

Substitutes: S.Smith, L.Thacker, O.Steede, J.Swan, D.Johnson, G.Butterfield, D.Signor.

Men of the match: R.Robinson (Cougars); N.Wells (Dandy Town).

Referee: J.Villamarin.