Shawn Smith headed home a dramatic late winner for visiting Devonshire Cougars as they upset high riding PHC at Somerset Cricket Club yesterday, halting Zebras' unbeaten run.

The player/coach/captain had earlier netted the equaliser from the penalty spot, but it was the glance off his brow eight minutes from time that gave the former Bermuda national team centre-half -- and his team -- the greatest satisfaction.

"Penalties are a given for me, I'm always guaranteed at least three or four goals a season from the spot,'' said Smith, who was duly mobbed by congratulatory supporters. "I was glad to be able to get a header in like I did.'' Belying their position near the foot of the standings, Cougars took matters to their more favoured opponents from the outset, forcing the Zebras on the defensive. Larance Durham managed the first meaningful shot three minutes into the match, but the midfieder fired agonisingly wide from a good position to the chagrin of team-mates and spectators alike.

Two minutes later Heys Wolffe angled a ferocious blast that similarly missed, and Sherrit Hewey followed, having goalkeeper Carlyle Crockwell save bravely at his feet.

Yet there would be no grace for Crockwell after 11 minutes with Wolffe following up on a partial clearance by the defence and unloading a 20-yard missile that rifled past Crockwell, exploding into the right corner of the net.

Finally wakened, the home side gradually came into the affair.

Ottis Steede grazed the upright with a shot from an acute angle on the right side in the 18th minute, and Cougars' net-minder Tori Henry later did well to thwart an onrushing Raynel Lightbourne.

This was but the beginning of what was a miserable day for the lean forward as, moments later, he concocted a miss from a sure position three yards from the target.

Nevertheless, the string of off-target efforts precluded a three minute burst of goal euphoria that turned the match on end.

Steede started the frenzy in the 40th minute, benefiting from the wizardry of Stephen Astwood. Astwood miraculously was able to shed three defenders inside the six-yard area before lofting the perfect cross towards the far post, where it was met by the head of Steede and deposited in the back of the net.

Less than two minutes later PHC went ahead, with Steede lending favour to Astwood, nodding the ball on for his team-mate to apply the finishing touch, beating Henry with a deft header of his own.

But before the celebration could even be completed Cougars were back on level terms, as PHC sweeper Stanton Lewis gift-wrapped the equaliser, needlessly hacking down Durham inside the area.

Smith calmly stepped up and slotted the ball past Crockwell into the left corner, leaving both sides even at the break.

PHC knocked off the top From Page 37 The second half failed to live up to the excitement of the first, with play scrappy and constantly being bogged down among the murky middle of the Somerset Cricket Club pitch.

PHC dominated the greater portion of the final stanza, but it was Cougars coming up with the goods that mattered.

After forcing a corner on the left side, an unusually subdued Wali Salaam sent in a cross that an unmarked Smith in the middle gratefully accepted, sending the small band of loyal followers into delirious rapture.

Smith afterwards noted the importance of the win, one which moved them into legitimate contention for a Dudley Eve Trophy spot.

"This was a good win for us,'' said Smith. "Once Somerset won the other night we knew it was vital for us to win and get points, especially at this time of the season.

"The conditions played a small part in the game and the ability to control the ball. We lapsed defensively and that caused us to fall behind late in the half, which showed that we need a little more fitness, but we were able to regroup and come back.'' PHC: C.Crockwell; S.Lewis, R.Lewis, C.Dowling (N.Hayward 74 mins), A.Washington; C.Furbert, O.Steede, D.Francis; D.Wilson (M.Smith 62 mins), S.Astwood, R.Lightbourne.

Devonshire Cougars: T.Henry; S.Smith, P.Clarke, J.DeShields, S.Coddington; W.Salaam, K.Steede, L.Durham; M.Smith, S.Hewey (W.Pitt 56 mins), H.Wolffe.

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.

Man of the match: Chris Furbert (PHC), Shawn Smith (Devonshire Cougars).