Somerset Eagles 2

Somerset Trojans 0

Somerset Trojans are going down.

And judging by their passionless performance in this Somerset derby at White Hill Field, they have already accepted their fate.

This was a game that Dennis Brown's men simply had to win, second bottom at the start of the day, they are still there, and are now five points adrift of safety.

That Eagles are the better football team is not a matter for debate, but derbies are supposed to be games where form is cast aside, and desire to beat your nearest rivals levels the playing field.

It is an occasion when a lack of ability can be masked by passion, pride, and a willingness to give everything you have for 90 minutes.

Somone forgot to tell Trojans, who capitulated in such a souless manner that any hopes the team's supporters might have for a miracle escape should be quashed immediately.

From the moment Danvers Seymour opened the scoring with his knee, with less than ten minutes gone, the game appeared over as a contest.

Quicker, brighter, more determined, Eagles were everything that the visiting team weren't.

They should have put the game out of reach in the first 20 minutes, but Aquino Grant and Darin Dowling both missed gilt-edged chances from inside the box to extend their side's lead.

For their part Trojans' default attacking option was to hoist long balls forward to striker Dwight Basden and hope he could hold on to it long enough for the rest of the team to get involved.

It was an approach that was doomed to failure, and any time Trojans opted to go through the middle the attack was inevitable broken up by Eagles skipper Torry Davis.

Davis is one of those unsung players, solid not flashy, who does his job in a quiet, effective manner, and it was too much for Trojans.

The second half was a rather scrappy affair with Trojans trying to find some rhythm, and Eagles trying not to allow themselves to be dragged into a kicking contest.

Grant provided the only highlight, scoring from 25-yards with an effort that hit the inside of the post and flew in.

Still, Trojans goalkeeper Andrew Jjombwe should have stopped the shot, but he made no effort to get there, apparently convinced the ball was going wide.

Trojans did muster some energy in the closing stages, but the closest they came to troubling Eagles goalkeeper Marcel Dill were long-range efforts from Cofield Robinson and Tahj Wade that flew well over the bar.

Somerset Eagles: M.Dill, A.Ricker, D.Seymour, J.Bather, A.Lambert, T.Davis, Troy Tucker, R.Deshields, D.Dowling (S.Smith, 80), A.Russell, A.Grant (J.Bean, 86). Subs not used: D.Andrade, K.Brown, A.Hunter.

Goals: Seymour 8, Grant 64.

Somerset Trojans: A.Jjombwe, J.Rogers, D.Burgess, J.Tucker, V.Blanchette (D.Brangman, 83), T.Wade, C.Robinson (L.Burgess, 70), D.Basden (M.Thomas, 74), J.Scott, J.Simmons. Subs not used: J.Harvey-Outerbridge, D.Desilva, T.Harvey, S.Bean.

Yellow cards: Deshields, Dowling (Eagles); Blanchette, Rogers (Trojans).

Referee: S Allen

Man of the match: T.Davis