Cougars cruise past jaded Trojans
Devonshire Cougars 3
Premier Division title hopes received a healthy boost with this away win against the Trojans at Somerset yesterday.
Goals by Reginald Baker, substitute Lamont Brangman and skipper Kwame Steede saw them emerge with a deserved victory against a jaded West End outfit for whom centre-back Darrin Minors netted.
The home side, without coach Dennis Brown who is reported to be travelling abroad on a training course, were unable to mount any sustained pressure against Cougars other than a 15-minute period before the interval when they grabbed an equaliser and were denied two goals — both ruled out for infringements.
Cougars struck early with Baker tapping home a soft goal after the Somerset defence were unable to clear deep in their own half after just 11 minutes.
That setback seemed to jolt the home side although they were still unable to find any sort of rhythm, allowing Cougars to hold a decisive edge for long spells.
Trojans, though, did create a chance through young Marcellos Thomas after Rodre Wilson crossed but his angled shot was directed right at goalkeeper Ricardo Brangman.
At the other end Adrian Burrows in the Trojans goal pulled off a superb save when he denied Steede from close range.
However, when Minors steered home the equaliser with his head from a corner after 30 minutes, Somerset seemed to find the momentum that had previously deserted them. After 36 minutes, left winger Aldolphus Lambert sent a 15-yard scorcher which struck Brangman in the chest and was cleared and then before the half two balls were forced over the goal-line only for the referee to disallow both.
But Trojans’ enterprising play that ended the half wasn’t a sign of things to come as it was Cougars who looked the better side when play restarted and it came as no surprise when the Big Cats went ahead.
After 58 minutes, substitute Jeremy DeShields smartly dribbled past right full back Marco Butterfield, raced down the left flank and curled a ball goalwards that Burrows could only slap into the path of an eager Lamont Brangman who coolly slotted home from close range to put his team ahead 2-1.
After 83 minutes Burrows saved a blast from the hard-working Chris Caisey to deny Cougars from going further ahead.
But with Mark Smith working tirelessly in the middle a third goal came their way as skipper Steede slipped through a dazed defence to stroke the ball into an empty net.
Somerset Trojans: A.Burrows; M.Butterfield, S.Simmons, D.Minors, S.Riley, J.Scott, J.Butterfield, M.Thomas (J.Tucker, 66 mins), D.Swan (C.Robinson, 62 mins), R.Wilson (R.Simons, 75 mins), A.Lambert. Sub not used: C.Moulder.
Devonshire Cougars: R.Brangman; J.Simmons, J.Mallory (J.DeShields, 44 mins), D.Cox, J.Butterfield; M.Smith, O.Butterfield, K.Steede; C.Caisey, R.Baker (L.Brangman, 50 mins), K.Goddard. Subs not d: C.Darrell, S.German.
Yellow cards: <$>J.Scott, D.Minors (Trojans); R.Brangman (Cougars).
Referee/B>George O’Brien.
Men of the match: D.Minors (Trojans); M.Smith (Cougars).
