For 88 minutes yesterday, Dale Russell's teammates had failed to put one shot on target against Colts in this Devonshire derby at Frog Lane. So, with time ticking away, the dreadlocked 42-year-old former pro decided he'd better show them how it should be done.

Colts' left back McKonnen Hollis tried to play his way out of his own penalty area, he ran into Cougars' winger Paul Simmons. The ball ran free to Russell just inside the area and he fired a fierce low drive under Colts' keeper Cordell Gilbert for a dramatic equaliser.

Battling Cougars just about deserved a share of the points but Colts will be kicking themselves for not making more of their chances in a game that rarely rose above the mediocre.

For much of the first half Colts impressed with neat build-ups but it was not until Craig Smith replaced the injured Marvin Lewis at half-time that they really began to penetrate as Smith fired in a string of dangerous balls from the left and Leonard Hypolite took a grip on central midfield.

It was Hypolite who had provided Colts' first chance of the match, setting up Roydon Holdipp in the third minute but his first touch in front of goal deserted him and his second attempt was deflected for a corner.

Holdipp in turn set up Pace in the 14th minute with a perfect left wing cross to the far post that Pace headed just past the upright.

Cougars, with midfielders Russell, Maxwell Dill and Wali Salaam working hard to spring free frontrunners Marlon Lindsay and Paul Simmons, frequently threatened on the break.

Their first chance was a tame stab at the keeper in the 22nd minute from Salaam following an intelligent ball from sweeper Shawn Smith, but 10 minutes later, Lindsay headed past the post after Dill had done well to shrug off a clumsy tackle from Lewis before pumping over a fine cross, and then Kenneth Swan fired wide of the right post after running onto a through ball from Russell.

Six minutes into the second half, Darrid Durrant had to head the ball off the line after fellow defender Curtis Azhar had met Craig Smith's corner with a firm but misdirected header.

Cougars' coach Brian (Bulla) Anderson then switched keepers, sending on Leon (Cubba) Place for Richardson. Place was quickly in action, bravely rushing out to deal with first Keishon Smith and then Pace twice as they charged in.

The deadlock was broken in the 71st minute when Hypolite, who had seconds earlier provided Pace with a headed chance, chipped the ball in behind the defence following an indrect free kick for Pace to slot home.

Cougars never gave up and the introduction of Philip Clarke for Lindsay, who had a hard afternoon shrugging off Jahmah Samuels, gave them new life up front.

Hypolite carved an opening for a second goal in the 76th minute with an excellent through ball for Pace. Goalkeeper Place was quick off his mark to kick clear and was relieved to see Keishon Smith fire the loose ball over the bar. Moments later, Pace headed another chance over the bar from Holdipp's left wing cross.

Dale Russell, on the other hand, needed just one chance to rob Colts of their second successive 1-0 victory of the new season and earn Cougars their first point of the year.

Two players were booked by referee Stuart Crockwell: Colts' Vic Ball for not retreating 10 yards from the ball at a free kick, and Cougars' Steve Coddington for retaliation.

Devonshire Colts: G.Cordell; D.Williams, M.Hollis, J.Smith, J.Samuels; V.Ball, L.Hypolite, R.Holdipp; J.Pace, K.Smith (Z.Algame, 82 mins), M.Lewis (C.Smith, 45 mins) Devonshire Cougars: F.Richardson (L.Place, 54 mins); C.Azhar, S.Smith, D.Durrant, K.Swan; S.Coddington, W.Salaam (G.Dyer, 65 mins), D.Russell, M.Dill; M.Lindsay (P.Clarke, 77 mins), P.Simmons.

Men of the Match: Leonard Hypolite (Colts), Dale Russell (Cougars).

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.