Somerset Trojans 3 Devonshire Cougars 2

Somerset Trojans upset the odds by dethroning Devonshire Cougars to become Dudley Eve Trophy champions in a fiery encounter at Devonshire Rec on Friday night.

In a game in which Jamaican referee Daneon Parchment handed out nine bookings and two red cards, Trojans stunned the defending champions by racing into a three-goal lead courtesy of penalties from Jaz Ratteray-Smith and D’Andre Wainwright, either side of a Khairi Joyiens strike.

With ten minutes remaining and their title seemingly slipping away, Cougars finally sparked into life and staged a late fightback with Domico Coddington handing his side a lifeline by scoring the third penalty of the match. In the aftermath of the goal, Trojans goalkeeper Jade Morrissey and Cougars’ Lejuan Simmons both saw red after clashing in the goalmouth.

Substitute Demetre Daniels further reduced the deficit deep into stoppage time but it was to prove the last kick of the game, with Parchment blowing the final whistle to give Trojans the title for the first time in decade.

“I’m so proud of the players,” said Trojans head coach Scott Morton, after guiding his new side to glory just four months into his tenure.

“We knew it was going to be difficult but I told the players before the match that this is just another ground and not to think of it as the home of Cougars. We knew the crowd would be mostly for them but it was all about them believing and seeing it through.

“Hopefully this is a big milestone for the club going forward but we can’t let this victory override the work we now need to do. It is important that the players understand this is one step, a huge one, in the direction we want to keep going in.

“All credit to the players because they deserve to enjoy this moment and it’s great to see them celebrate because I have to appreciate that it means a lot to all the players and fans.”

Showing no signs of being overawed by the occasion, Trojans started brightly with Justin Corday firing narrowly wide from the edge of the area and Jadan Ratteray-Smith testing Ricardo Brangman inside the opening 12 minutes.

At the other end, Che'Kai Caisey forced Trojans goalkeeper Morissey into action with a smart low save after good build-up play from Elisha Darrell, who also spurned an opportunity when lifting an effort over the bar after the ball fell inside the area from a corner.

Further chances came and went for Cougars in quick succession on the half-hour mark, with Domico Coddington acrobatically volleying over the bar before dragging another effort wide of the right post.

The defending champions were made to rue their profligacy as Trojans were awarded a penalty in the 38th minute after Khairi Joyiens was brought down just inside the area. Jaz Ratteray-Smith took responsibility and made no mistake, firing into the bottom-left corner.

Just three minutes after the interval, Trojans doubled their advantage when Joyiens seized on a missed defensive header from a deep free kick into the area to fire a low strike past Brangman.

Trojans were handed the opportunity to further extend the lead when referee Parchment pointed to the spot for a second time after Wainwright was bundled over after driving into the area. The striker picked himself up and dispatched emphatically to put his side in firm control.

With ten minutes remaining the Jamaican official awarded the third penalty of the night, this time to Cougars after substitute Jayori Fox was brought down. Coddington slotted into the bottom-right corner to give Cougars a glimmer of hope. A clash in the aftermath of the goal led to goalkeeper Morrissey and Cougars’ Simmons being dismissed.

With four minutes remaining, Wainwright spurned a golden chance to settle any lingering nerves, somehow hitting the post from two yards out after Brangman had fumbled Justin Corday’s driven free-kick.

Deep into the five minutes of added time, Daniels looked to have set up a tense finale after firing a left-footed effort past substitute goalkeeper Jomari Gooden into the bottom-right corner.

However, it was to prove too little too late as Parchment blew for full time immediately after kick off to spark wild celebrations among the Trojans players, coaches and fans.

SCORERS

Somerset Trojans: Jaz Ratteray-Smith (pen) 38, Khairi Joyiens 48, DeAndre Wainwright (pen) 69.

Devonshire Cougars: Domico Coddington (pen) 81, Demetre Daniels 90+5.

TEAMS

Somerset Trojans (4-5-1): J Morrissey 5 – Jaz Ratteray-Smith 7, M Joell 7 (sub: J Gooden 84), C Durham 7 (sub: M Tankard, 49min 6), D Ming 6 – J Butterfield 7, K Joyiens 8 (sub: E Mendes 67 6), S Burrows 7, Jadan Ratteray-Smith 7, J Corday 8 – D Wainwright 8. Substitutes not used: K McNeil, J Shields, Z Saltus-Seymour, A Morrissey, K Cann. Booked: Durham, Wainwright, Burrows, Ming, Butterfield, Joell, J Morrissey. Sent off: J Morrissey

Devonshire Cougars (4-1-4-1): R Brangman 6 – Z White 6, D Cox 6, J Thomas 6, L Simmons 5 – Chris Caisey 6 – K Minors 6 (sub: J Fox 56 6), Che'Kai Caisey 6 (sub: J Wade 73), Zari Simmons 6 – D Coddington 6, E Darrell 6 (sub: D Daniels 56 7). Substitutes not used: K Darrell, C Albouy, J Furbert-Wade, Zion Simmons, N Simmons Booked: Minors, Brangman. Sent off: L Simmons.

Referee: D Parchment