Devonshire Cougars are now almost certain to return to the Second Division after this loss at Devonshire Rec.

For now they face the almost impossible task of escaping the drop. They can only now survive on goal difference, which is seven goals worst than that of the team they need to catch, St. George's.

One of Cougars' last two matches is against St. George's this weekend -- the other against Vasco -- and they must not only win both and hope St. George's also lose against Devonshire Colts but also have to improve their goal difference considerably in the process.

The goal that all but killed Cougars' First Division dreams for next season came in the opening minutes, which turned out to be just as frustrating as if it had come in the dying minutes because Cougars tried desperately for 87 minutes to wipe out Elliott Jennings' third minute strike.

With Philip Clarke back from injury, Cougars had a host of scoring chances but could not find a way through as Jennings' fifth goal of the season stood between the teams.

It was a gift chance, coming when the Village skipper pounced on a mistake by defender Galvin Butterfield before slipping the ball past Leon Place from an angle on the left side of the penalty box. The goal brought Cougars to life and they had some good chances in the first half to equalise, despite being reduced to 10 men in the 27th minute when Wali Salaan was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Clarke went close to scoring against his former team in the 19th minute when he connected with a free kick by Dale Russell in a crowded penalty area only to put his header inches over the bar.

Cougars kept up the pressure with Clarke and Clevie Campbell using their strength to test the Village defence which was without captain Shawn Smith who is on Pan Am Games duty in Argentina.

Stand-in skipper Dale Russell, at 42 the oldest player in the First Division, was commanding in the Cougars midfield.

His feared left foot nearly brought them an equaliser in the 22nd minute when he blasted in a 30-yard freekick which was about six inches too high.

Salaam took his first step towards a shortened game when he was booked in the 24th minute for a foul on Dennis Robinson.

Three minutes later he was walking back to the dressing room after getting the red card for a deliberate handball when a pass from Darrid Durrant was too high and he caught it above his head.

There was no argument from Salaam as referee John Bento sent him packing.

Despite being short-handed Cougars still remained competitive, though they wasted a number chances from set pieces. One freekick from 20 yards by Campbell went closer to the corner flag than the goal as Village were let off from a dangerous position.

Cougars' problems continued in the 37th minute when midfielder George Dyer limped off to be replaced by Jamal Salaam. Salaam was booked early in the second half for a foul on Chris Sabir before Sabir, himself, had his name taken a couple of minutes later for kicking the ball away.

Village had some good chances to seal the win in the second half as Corey Furbert lobbed the ball over 'keeper Place only to see Durrant chest it away for a corner which Sheldon Franks wasted.

In the 77th minute a shot from an angle by Maxwell Dill was deflected for a corner, from which Michael Hansey made an important clearance after Clarke headed on Russell's cross from the right.

A minute before the end Village came close to adding a second goal when Jennings unselfishly crossed to the far post after creating an opening but Franks just failed to reach the pass.

Dev.Cougars: L.Place; M.Dill, G.Butterfield, D.Durrant, S.Coddington; D.Russell, G.Dyer (J.Salaam 37min), W.Salaam, T.Burgess (D.Bean 65min), P.Clarke, C.Campbell.

North Village: C.Crockwell; M.Hansey, D.Bell, I.Romaine, K.Grant; S.Franks, C.Sabir, D.Robinson, E.Jennings, C.Furbert, J.Smith (Q.Paynter 60min).

Referee: John Bento.

Men of the match: Darrid Durrant (Cougars), Kevin Grant (Village).