Cougars Survive Late Scare to Edge Seven-Goal Thriller
Chae Brangman was on target
IslandStats.com
Devonshire Cougars 4 Young Men Social Club 3
Devonshire Cougars secured their first league victory of the season in dramatic fashion on Saturday, holding off a fierce comeback from Young Men Social Club to take a thrilling 4-3 win at the Devonshire Recreation Club.
The high-scoring affair was decided in the final minutes, but the three points will be a massive relief for the Cougars as they finally get their campaign off the mark.
The hosts wasted no time in asserting themselves, with Mosiais Mills firing Devonshire Cougars into the lead just two minutes into the match. The early strike proved to be the only goal of a tightly contested first half, sending the Cougars into the break with a narrow 1-0 advantage.
Young Men Social Club came out with renewed vigour in the second half, and their pressure quickly paid off when Zeiko Lewis drew the side level at 1-1 in the 47th minute.
The equalizer, however, only served to spur the Cougars back into life.
Mosiais Mills restored the lead in the 56th minute, drilling a superb strike home from the edge of the box for his second goal of the afternoon. Just three minutes later, the Cougars extended their lead further when Che Brangman powered a right-footed shot into the net from just inside the area, giving the home side a commanding 3-1 lead.
The match exploded into life in the final five minutes. Clay Darrell pulled Young Men Social Club back within one in the 85th minute, showcasing pace to outrun his marker, before beating another defender and finding the back of the net from inside the box.
The visitors' hopes were quickly dashed, however, when Kydan Brown restored the two-goal cushion in the 90th minute, capitalizing on a chance from inside the box to make the score 4-2.
Yet, Young Men Social Club refused to give up the ghost. Josh Hardtman pulled a goal back just one minute into stoppage time, setting up a nervy final few moments. Despite their frantic search for an equalizer, time ran out for the visitors, and the Devonshire Cougars held on for the crucial 4-3 win.
