BAA's decision to request a two-day delay of this game to allow them to include returning international players Dwayne Adams and Meshach Wade paid off when Wade scored the only goal just before half-time in this bottom-of-the-table tussle at Devonshire Rec. And as a result the Greens picked up their first points of the season.

It may be premature for Adams and his BAA team-mates to celebrate this clean sheet as a sign of things to come; a marked lack of urgency in the Cougars' front line left the 'keeper largely untested, although only the woodwork saved BAA when an inspired run and cross by George Dyer saw Cleveland Campbell smack the ball onto the right-hand post from just behind the penalty spot five minutes into the second half.

The game had started under cloudy skies, with a slight breeze favouring Cougars. With both 'keepers roaring encouragement to their teams, a lively first half-hour saw several promising moves come to nought at either end as both sets of forwards came up one pace short.

With Wade and Wali Salaam, the respective engine rooms, driving their teams forward, an entertaining game provided several opportunities, but neither Cougars nor BAA were able to establish dominance.

Rain set in after 25 minutes, lightly at first, but a few minutes later it turned into a steady downpour, which had little effect on the flow of the game.

With five minutes left in the first half, BAA forced a succession of corners, but it was from a subsequent free kick just outside the box on the right, two minutes into injury time, that the incoming Wade connected with the ball with a clean header to offer Cougars' keeper Leon Place no chance and score what would prove to be the game's only goal.

The second half was played at a fairly crsip pace, but little other than Campbell's close call and a rainbow brightened an otherwise undistinguished half.

The Cougars' Curtis Azhar was shown the yellow card in the 68th minute for intentional handball.

On this showing, the two points BAA gained at the Den may loom large indeed when the season's results are finally tallied.

Devonshire Cougars : L.Place, C. Azhar, S. Smith, D. Durrant, K. Swan, G. Dyer (M. Lindsay, 60 mins), D. Russell, W. Salaam, P. Simmons, M. Dill (S.

Coddington, 60 mins), C. Campbell.

BAA : D. Adams, R. Pacheco, D. Davis, T. Walker, N. Correia, D. Ashworth, M.

Wade, M. Thorne, C. Critchlow, T. Smith (M. O'Connell, 74 mins), T. Darrell.

Referee : P. Sousa.

Men of the Match : Meshach Wade (BAA), Wali Salaam (Devonshire Cougars).

Meshach Wade