There is no substitute for experience in football and 48-year-old match-winner Oscar Samuels proved the point at Devonshire Rec. yesterday.

The veteran Cougars striker illustrated the goalscorer's knack of being in the right place at the right time to boost his side's chances of First Division survival.

Samuels pounced six minutes into the second half to settle a hard-fought local derby and deal a severe blow to the Red Devils' title hopes.

The goal came after Shawn Smith headed down to Stephen Coddington, who kept his feet well to round Village goalkeeper Nyon Steede and square for Samuels to side-foot into the net from close range.

Samuels was replaced after an hour, but by then his job was done and he walked off the field with a grin on his face.

Wily campaigner Samuels, who will turn 49 next month, said: "A good centre forward always knows how to get a goal.'' Cougars defended their lead as if their lives depended on it, but Village still had their chances including a penalty which Neil Robinson blasted against the post.

The game started uncomfortably for Cougars when goalkeeper Ricardo Brangman picked up a back pass and conceded an indirect free-kick inside the penalty area. But Robinson and Jamal Smith contrived to make a hash of it and a good chance was gone.

Robinson was in the thick of the action all afternoon and won the penalty in the 16th minute when he ran onto Kaiwon Dill's through ball and went down under challenge from Coddington.

The midfielder took the spot-kick himself, but could only rattle the post and he struck the rebound high over the bar.

Cougars' first goal attempt came in the 23rd minute when Smith's pass found Ryan Swan at the edge of the penalty area, but his left-footed drive flew just wide of the post.

Robinson was left cursing his luck again in the 37th minute, when he saw his brilliant dipping volley from all of 35 yards palmed away superbly by the back-pedalling Brangman, diving to his right.

Cougars hit back a minute before half-time with a sweeping move culminating in Ryan Swan's cross sparking a goalmouth scramble, which ended with Steede saving from Smith.

Samuels' goal seemed to wake up Village who had started the day tied on points with Vasco at the top of the table, and they pushed forward relentlessly.

The nearest they came to an equaliser was another frantic scramble following substitute Kevin Jennings' low cross, when first Robinson, then Jameiko Jennings were denied by last-ditch tackles.

Cougars defended bravely, with Meneth Swan, who headed off the line ten minutes from time to spare team-mate Smith the embarrassment of an own goal, outstanding.

Cougars: R.Brangman, G. Butterfield (D.Bean 67 min), W.Swan, M.Swan, S.Smith, G.Dyer, S.Coddington, R.Swan (M.Smith 77 min), OSamuels (S.Hewey 60 min), M.Dill, W.Salaam.

Village: N.Steede, M.Hansey, R.Spence, Ko.Dill, J.Thomas, D.Jennings, D.Brangman, J.Boyles, Ka.Dill (J.Jennings 65 min), N.Robinson, J.Smith (K.Jennings 53 min).

Referee: Gregory Simons Men of the match: Meneth Swan (Cougars); Randy Spence (Village).

UNDER CONTROL -- Stephen Coddington (left), of Devonshire Cougars, shields the ball from North Village's Randy Spence at Devonshire Rec. yesterday.