Wolves recorded only their second league win of the season at White Hill Field yesterday as Devonshire Colts paid for their first half lethargy to slip to a second successive Premier Division defeat.

Nakia Smith got the only goal of the game, in the 17th minute -- and a soft one it was too. Midfielder Peter Sampson turned the ball into the middle, the Colts defence stood static, and Smith, with plenty of space and time, slipped the ball just beyond the advancing Troy Hall.

Colts, who seemed reluctant to move the ball forward from the back, had almost taken the lead in the first minute and had they done so it might have provided the impetus they needed to get back to winning ways after being dismissed 4-1 by PHC last Sunday.

But the Wolves defence managed to scoop the ball clear from under their own crossbar after a delightful move involving Derek Wright, Jamel Simmons, Marvin Belboda and, ultimately, Alzame Zuill.

From then on Colts' midfield and defence seemed confused and ill at ease as the clever running off the ball of Mark Ray and Smith kept them fully occupied. Colts' only outlet seemed to be the bustling of Marvin Belboda up front on the left with Zuill making some incisive moves inside. But too often, Colts took too long to get the ball up to them, passing it pointlessly among their back four -- at times causing themselves unnecessary problems.

Smith, in fact, had an excellent chance to add to Wolves' score in the 27th minute when national team skipper Shannon Burgess allowed a free kick from the right to pass in front of him, unaware that the Wolves striker was lurking beyond the far post.

But Burgess made amends for his slip in concentration to turn Smith's shot off the line when it came back across goal.

Colts made an early substitution, removing midfielder Jemel Simmons, who had been booked for a crude challenge from behind on Mark Ray, and replacing him with Clevon Hill, a Friendship Trophy goalscorer in midweek, after 37 minutes.

Hill seemed to make a difference in the second half with Hewvonne Brown kept a lot busier between the Wolves posts.

The stocky goalkeeper was called into action after 50 minutes, saving at Zuill's feet as the Colts' striker controlled Tito Smith's chip on his chest as he ran through the middle.

Then Hill went past two men on the byline before a Wolves foot stepped in to concede the corner.

Zuill should have equalised as he ran onto Belboda's fine crossfield ball which cleared last man Cory Smith, but he shot straight at Brown.

Ray volleyed a yard wide in the 64th minute as Wolves continued to look dangerous on the break and just four minutes later Brown prevented Colts from levelling with a breathtaking save, diving to his left to parry substitute Raymond Jones' goal-bound shot.

The groundwork had been carried out by Belboda and Zuill in the penalty area before Hill's subtle flick set the ball up perfectly for Jones to run on to.

Nakia Smith missed a guilt-edged opportunity to settle the issue, planting the ball wide after being put clear of the Devonshire defence with 12 minutes remaining.

And it looked likely to prove costly as Belboda cleverly brought down a spinning ball 15 yards out and made space for the shot only to see his own team-mate Hill take it off him as he pulled back his foot to fire.

Colts: T.Hall, J.Belboda, N.Samuels (J.Laws 83 mins), S.Burgess, C.Durham (R.Jones 62 mins), D.Wright, J.Simmons (C.Hill 37 mins), G.Trott, T.Smith, M.Belboda, A.Zuill.

Wolves: H.Brown, C.Smith, C.Lopes, A.Thomas, J.Warren, P.Sampson, S.Waldron, D.Simmons (J.Peniston 42 mins), K.Smith, N.Smith, M.Ray.

Referee: Richard Knights.

Men of the match: M.Belboda (Colts); P.Sampson (Wolves).

Yellow cards: J.Simmons, C.Smith (Wolves); M.Belboda (Colts).