Somerset did the hard work in the first half and then coasted in the second to make sure that Devonshire Cougars didn't fight back last night at PHC Stadium to reach their second end of season final.

Now the Trojans can focus their attention of sealing the league, Dudley Eve and Friendship trophies in the final weeks of the season. The Dudley Eve is already in the bag and Dandy Town can expect a battle on their hands as they try to defend their league and Friendship titles. Ironically they meet the Trojans in the Friendship final on April 2.

Somerset looked the classier of these two teams in the first half as relegation threatened Cougars took time to settle. Still, they had the best of the early chances and it might have been a different game had veteran Dale Russell scored from an angle inside the box after jut seven minutes.

Somerset were soon calling the shots and in the 19th minute they broke the deadlock. It started from yet another freekick when the dangerous Jerry Webb was again fouled, this time deep on the right.

The ball was flighted in and after DeRoza's shot from outside the box was blocked the diminutive Somerset skipper Reggie Tucker pounced to lob the ball over the helpless Place and into the far corner.

With Tucker, Webb and Simmons taking control of midfield there were plenty of chances created for Somerset's front men. Tucker intercepted a pass from Russell and fed a gem of a ball behind the Cougars defence for Bascome but with the 'keeper advancing Bascome knocked the ball too far in front of him and the chance was lost as Bascome apologised.

However, he made amends on the half hour when he laid on the decisive pass from the left for Tucker to rise high at the far post and beat Place with his downward header that got between the keeper and the upright.

Cougars were out of contention and were fortunate not to have lost their key defender Darrid Durrant in the 35th minute when he fouled Tucker as he raced through the middle. With Durrant being the last defender the red card looked inevitable as referee Simons reached into his pocket. But there was relief on Durrant's face as only the yellow came out.

Somerset kept on the pressure and four minutes before the half they settled the match with the third goal.

This time the cross came in from the right from fullback Anthony Burchall and when Place failed in his bid to punch the ball clear, Webb inside the six yard box graciously accepted the gift chance and calmly slotted the ball home.

The chances kept coming for Somerset in the second half, including one 10 minutes after the break which Crofton wasted when he delayed his shot and allowed the advancing Place to clear for a corner.

Even though Paul Simmons, a replacement at the half for Cougars, added more thrust to the Cougars attack, Somerset's lead was never threatened. Simmons' best effort was a shot in the 59th minute which 'keeper Andre Hendrickson, who had an otherwise quiet game, tipped over the bar.

Somerset: A.Hendrickson; A.Burchall (H.Hunt 56min), J.Burrows, D.DeRoza, N.Woods, K.Bailey, R.Tucker, R.Simmons, J.Webb, L.Crofton, R.Bascome (D.Minors 81min).

Dev. Cougars: L.Place; M.Dill, T.James, D.Durrant, S.Coddington; D.Russell, D.Bean, D.Brangman, T.Burgess (P.Simmons 45min), P.Clarke, C.Campbell.

Referee: Cal Simons Men of match: Reggie Tucker (Somerset), Maxwell Dill (Cougars).

Prospect 3, Som. Eagles 3 This Shield semi-final went one way then the other before the teams settled for an extra-time draw and a replay, though there was some confusion as to whether penalty kicks should have been used at the end.

Everett Wellman shot Eagles into the lead in the 44th minute before Andrew Bissell equalised in the 58th. Anthony Mouchette put Prospect in front in the 79th but Eagles forced the match into extra-time with an equaliser in the 88th minute.

Eagles scored in the 93rd minute through Oscar Riley to regain the lead but stubborn Prospect were not to be denied and Bissell scored again six minutes from the end of the second period to force a replay. The winners will meet Southampton Rangers in the final.