Relegation-threatened Devonshire Cougars did themselves a world of good after an unlikely drubbing of championship pretenders North Village at Bernard Park yesterday.

On the basis of Village's earlier 5-0 win over the Cougars, this looked like the mismatch of the First Division's 13th round of fixtures. And with midfielder Ryan Swan senselessly getting himself sent off 32 minutes into the match, a three-goal margin of victory to the home side was not out of the question.

But over-confident Red Devils followers did not count on the brilliance of Aljame Zuill and the sheer presence of Philip Clarke up front for Cougars.

They inspired the victory for the most part and there could, and should, have been more goals.

After a scoreless first half, Zuill struck twice, Clarke once and Shawn Smith from the penalty spot. Kevin Jennings netted the lone goal for Village.

The opening 45 minutes promised much but offered little, even though Cougars' Clarke set the tone with a few dangerous shots on the turn.

They should have gone ahead in the 11th minute when referee Stuart Crockwell pointed to the spot for handball. But Wali Salaam fired horribly wide to the left.

Clarke, who gave as much as he took in an intriguing battle with Village centre half Michael Hansey, tested Edness for the first time in the 21st minute. Then at the other end, Jamel Smith cut in and shot through the Cougars goal area.

From Village's best move, which again included Smith, Elliott Jennings shot over when well placed in the 28th minute.

Cougars were reduced to 10 men when Swan, who was earlier booked for an equally unnecessary foul, reached out and handled in midfield.

Cougars dropped Wali Salaam back into midfield and in the end the handicap mattered little as Zuill and Clarke caused Village enough problems that they might have had the extra man.

The second half was barely a minute old when Cougars took the lead. A bouncing pass from the left snaked through to Zuill who side-footed home from eight yards.

Crockwell needed to consult his assistant first as there was also a Village handball to consider; and he played the advantage.

Five minutes later, Village were stunned as Cougars ran at them. Stephen Coddington passed up a shot when in good position, and just when it looked the chance was gone, he side-stepped Hansey and was brought down by Edness.

This time, Shawn Smith claimed the penalty, and it was put away with aplomb by the Bermuda international.

Village responded in the best possible fashion in the 56th minute as Jemeiko Jennings, who was given a torrid time on a difficult playing surface, split the defence with a 25-yard pass and Kevin Jennings drove home first time from the right.

By then, the decision had already been made to replace the teenager and Village never looked the same.

Cougars' next two goals, both of dreamy proportion, had no right coming from a side mired in a relegation battle. But they just might be the goals to boost morale sufficiently to survive.

A deep Salaam free kick was met perfectly in the air by Clarke's head, giving Edness no chance in the 59th minute.

Another Clarke header hit the bar and went over in the 67th minute before Zuill's gem put it out of reach.

With a quarter-hour remaining, a hopeful ball forward was met by the lanky forward who flicked over the advancing Edness and repeated the move against Don Whitfield before half-volleying home.

It was a perfect finish to a gutsy effort from the green and gold who are now ninth and within striking distance of Hotels.

North Village: G.Edness; D.Whitfield, M.Hansey, D.Jennings, K.Dill; C.Dill (I.Romaine, 68 mins), J.Jennings (R.Spence, 57 mins), J.Boyles (N.Smith, 52 mins); J.Smith, E.Jennings, K.Jennings.

Devonshire Cougars: T.Henry; M.Dill, S.Smith, W.Swan (D.Swan, 62 mins), J.Thomas; R.Swan, G.Dyer, S.Coddington; A.Zuill (P.Mallory, 86 mins), W.Salaam, P.Clarke (M.Mills, 78 mins).

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.

Men of the match: Aljame Zuill (Devonshire Cougars); Michael Hansey (North Village).