Devonshire Cougars player/coach Wali Salaam led his team to their first victory of the season to celebrate the New Year and then promised: "There's better to come.'' A half-time tactical switch by Salaam in this relegation crunch match at Devonshire Rec enabled Cougars to overturn a 1-0 deficit at the break and heap extra pressure on fellow strugglers PHC, whom they joined on five points propping up the rest of the First Division table.

But Cougars have a game in hand over the Zebras, albeit against league leaders Vasco, and their next target must be to overhaul Somerset Trojans, two points above them on seven points and facing a tricky tie against Hotels at Southampton Oval on Sunday.

Salaam had struggled to make an impact up front before the interval and after a dominant PHC had been unlucky to go in at the end of the half just one goal to the good, he decided to withdraw himself into midfield to help improve the service to marauding centre forward Philip Clarke and the more fleet of foot Aljame Zuill.

It was a ploy that worked to perfection as his front two notched the goals in the space of five minutes which sent the long-suffering Cougars fans into paroxysms of joy.

The first, on 52 minutes, was the result of a huge downfield kick by goalkeeper Tori Henry. The PHC defence struggled to clear and although Zuill was thwarted in his attempt to create room for a shot, the ball fell to Clarke who swivelled and scored.

Zuill grabbed the winner when he anticipated Ryan Swan's cross from the left with the outside of his right foot and stretched out a leg to divert the ball past Hunt.

PHC had taken the lead in the 37th minute after spending most of the first half camped in the Cougars half but without making too many clear cut chances.

Stanton Lewis got the goal, taking advantage of Cougars' inability to clear the ball to slip the ball past Henry from 12 yards.

Salaam later paid tribute to his front line, saying: "They had great games but a lot of credit must go to our defence and keeper. It's a positive start for 1998 and there's better to come.'' Devonshire Cougars: T.Henry, S.Coddington, S.Smith, W.Swan (C.Butterfield 45 mins), M.Dill, S.Caisey (D.Trott 62 mins), R.Swan, A.Zuill, W.Salaam (C.Campbell 77 mins), P.Clarke, D.Brangman PHC: Q.Hunt, E.Hunt, R.Lewis, S.Smith, C.Dowling, B.Anderson, S.Lewis (M.Smith 75 mins), E.Dowling, K.Mills, R.Mallory, D.Wilson (E.Bean 67 mins) Referee: Leroy Stevens Men of the match: P.Clarke (Cougars); R.Mallory (PHC) Wolves 3 Paget 2 Wolves' 100 per cent league record remained intact -- but only just as Paget missed a penalty eight minutes from time that would have given them a share of the spoils.

Shannon Berkeley and Khari put Wolves two up in half an hour before Alvin Barker pulled one back on 49 minutes.

Vincent Minors appeared to have made things safe with a 65th minute effort but Baker again reduced the arrears 12 minutes later. And Paget won a spot-kick in the 82nd minute when the referee spotted a handball from a corner but skipper Curtis Azhar scuffed it wide.