Devonshire Cougars advanced to a third Martonmere Cup final in five years — and fourth overall — after handing cup holders Dandy Town one of their worst defeats in top flight football at Somerset Cricket Club on Wednesday night.

Cougars seized the initiative early and never once looked back on the way to a 5-0 triumph.

Striker Raymond Beach — who has now netted seven goals in four matches — was his usual menacing self up front, the wizardry of playmaker Domico Coddington also proved to be a thorn in Hornets’ side while diminutive sweeper Omar Butterfield marshalled the backline superbly.

It was a spanking Town will long remember and a win Cougars thoroughly deserved — one which assistant coach Gary (Tuba) Mallory attributed yesterday to “team work”.

“There’s no I’s in this team . . . we do everything as a group and everyone is putting the necessary work in as a team,” Mallory told The Royal Gazette <$>after Wednesday’s slaughter handed Cougars a third straight cup semi-final win at Somerset Cricket Club in four years and second straight over Hornets at the same venue.

“We decided from day one in training that we were going to put the work in and try and play as a team. We believe in one another and also believe that we are a strong squad.

“Against Town we were able to put our chances away and I think overall we have been playing good football so far. Everybody is getting a chance and we’ve had replacements step in for injured players and also perform.”

Second half sub Worrell (Nolly) Bean — brother-in-law of Cougars coach Andrew Bascome — proved to be a case in point by leaping off the bench to notch the Big Cats’ fifth and final goal.

Cougars, who appeared in their first Martonmere Cup final in 1979-80, will now meet PHC Zebras in the November 11 final scheduled for either Lords or Wellington Oval.

Cougars and Zebras have only met each other twice in a major cup final. PHC defeated Cougars 3-0 in the 1972-73 Friendship Trophy final before Devonshire returned the favour in the same competition in 2004-05.

Mallory said his team would now place emphasis on Sunday’s derby with Boulevard at BAA Field.

Cougars are unbeaten in league play so far, their only loss coming against Somerset Trojans in their opening Martonmere Cup Group B clash.

And as far as next month’s showdown with Zebras is concerned, Mallory said: “We respect Zebras. We have had the better of them in recent times, but we won’t be taking them for granted because I’m sure they will have something to prove to us.

“Our job is to concentrate on what we have to do, and prepare ourselves as best we can for the challenge.”

PHC’s deputising coach Mark Wade was present during Wednesday night’s match in Somerset, and yesterday gave his assessment on Cougars’ convincing win.

“I wasn’t that impressed with the game itself as a spectacle. I thought that for the quality of players out on the field the teams didn’t really play to their full potential,” Wade said.

“But obviously you had the standouts in Kwame Steede and Domico Coddington and from that standpoint I thought Cougars were very dangerous. But they also have some weaknesses I’m sure Zebras can exploit.”

PHC are away to North Village on Sunday, a team they defeated 1-0 in the Martonmere Cup group stage.