The league champions scored in injury time of each half to come away with a comfortable victory over beleaguered Devonshire Cougars at St. John's Field yesterday.

Danger men Darron Simons and Carlos Smith were the scoring stars of a show that never really whet the appetite on a steaming day.

The heat obviously played its part and Cougars were the first to wilt. It was only then that Town played with composure ... and with the acres of space they were afforded, it was no surprise.

But it all might have been so different had Cougars converted a 64th-minute penalty won by Clevie Campbell against Diallo Sharrieff. Town goalkeeper Cymande Davis struck a rare blow for youth against experience when he dived to his left to superbly parry Dale Russell's drive to safety.

The penalty came just three minutes after Cougars right back Kevin Hodgson was sent off for a vicious tackle from behind.

Town's Davis had a fine game in goal for the hosts but his Cougars counterpart Leon Place could not say the same. It was his error that let in Simons for the opener.

Sharrieff's searching pass picked out Troy Lewis on the left and the little winger slipped Hodgson and let off what appeared to be a weak shot. But just before it reached Place the ball bobbled and Simons met the rebound with stunning precision.

In the first half Pernell Douglas and Devarr Boyles won midfield for Town and Walter Musson was a constant threat.

Smith continuously outhustled the Cougars defenders in the second half but it was Simons who should have finished with a hat-trick at least.

One touch too many cost him in the 50th minute after he beat Hodgson and Place. Shawn Smith, Cougars' busiest player, made the saving clearance.

Wali Salaam almost broke through against the run of play for Cougars in the 62nd minute but his first touch let him down.

At the other end, Carlos Smith almost made Place pay for another handling error, his left-foot shot curling just over.

Simons had the most glaring miss with five minutes left after Ross Parsons' cross was expertly knocked back across goal by Ascento Russell. But, with Place out of the picture and an empty net in front of him, the striker shot over from six yards.

For Town's fans, the clincher was of enough quality to sufficiently make them forget a sub-standard performance. Smith netted with a 22-yard free kick that curled over the wall and left Place groping for air.

Dandy Town: C.Davis; W.Rudo, D.Sharrieff, W.Campbell, D.Lewis (R.Parsons, 59 mins); W.Musson, P.Douglas, D.Boyles; T.Lewis (A.Russell, 72 mins), C.Smith, D.Simons.

Devonshire Cougars: L.Place; C.Azhar, D.Durrant, S.Smith, K.Hodgson; G.Dyer, D.Russell, W.Salaam, D.Bean (S.Coddington, 60 mins); P.Clarke (P.Simmons, 71 mins), C.Campbell.

Referee: Esten Curtis.

Men of the match: Carlos Smith (Dandy Town); Shawn Smith (Devonshire Cougars).