Somerset Trojans 3 Dandy Town 2

After having ten-man Dandy Town on the ropes Somerset Trojans almost let their Martonmere Cup rivals deliver the sucker punch in an action-packed match at Devonshire Rec. last night.

A dominant second half performance saw them coasting to victory at 3-1 but with just seven minutes to go they let Town pull a goal back that gave them hope of salvaging a draw.

Such an outcome would have been hugely unfair on Mark Trott's side and justice was done as the Trojans managed to ride out the final minutes and in so doing keep their Cup aspirations alive.

A defeat would have sent them crashing out and there was no doubt as to their coach's pre-match instructions as they took the game to Town from the off.

It took them 28 minutes to break the deadlock though, Damon Ming scoring from the spot after the same player had been felled in the box.

All the hard work was undone just two minutes later, however, when Sri Wilson met a superb raking cross from Wolde Place and fired under the advancing Timmy Figuerido to draw the sides level.

To their credit, Somerset did not allow their heads to drop and as they forced the tempo Town `keeper Antoine Lightbourne handed them the chance to regain the lead after 34 minutes.

Rising for a high ball he failed to collect and spilled it at the feet of Place who did not need a second invitation, striking a shot low into the far corner from close range.

On a busy night for the St. John Ambulance they were called on to take both Town's Kingsley Mundy, injured in the incident that led to the goal, and Somerset's Dion Stovell, who collected a nasty knock to the head earlier, to hospital.

On half-time a daft challenge by an already booked Kelvon Butterfield saw Town go a man down, referee Stuart Crockwell taking some time before showing the player a second yellow and then a red card after he tangled with Richard Scott.

If Town were given an ear-bashing during the interval their coach obviously did not shout loud enough as they conceded another goal in almost the first attack of the second half.

Marvin Belboda, for so long a hero for Devonshire Colts, went on a trademark mazy run that ended with him sliding the ball under Lightbourne to put Somerset 3-1 up.

From here on it was all Trojans, with Belboda and even more impressively Damon Ming the star attractions.

The pair had too many tricks up their sleeve for whoever Town placed in front of them, Ming in particular taunting and teasing his luckless opponent like a cat might play with a mouse.

He could have added to his personal tally after being set free by Damon Swan on 62 minutes but an unnecessary touch pushed him too near to the byline and he shot into the side netting.

McLee Smith then forced a one-handed save from Lightbourne and Ming saw his shot on the turn go inches over as Somerset turned on the style.

But for all their dominance they could not completely kill off the tie and Place's shot from out of nowhere made it 3-2 and had their nerves jangling until the final whistle blew.

Somerset Trojans: T.Figuerido, G.Ray, J.Martin (R.Simmons, 81 mins), R.Scott, A.Rahman, T.Davis, S.Riley, D.Ming, C.Grant (M.Smith, 48 mins), D.Stovell (D.Swan, 42 mins), M.Belboda.

Dandy Town: A.Lightbourne, L.Furbert, K.Mundy (S.Smith, 34 mins), C.Azhar (C.Smith, 52 mins), M.Lowe, K.Butterfield, B.O'Riordan, S.Wilson, D.Hill (G.Foggo, 46 mins), K.Hurdle, W.Place.

Booked: S.Smith (Dandy Town); M.Belboda (Somerset Trojans).

Sent off: K.Butterfield (Dandy Town) Two yellow cards.

Men of the match: D.Ming (Somerset); W.Place (Dandy Town).

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.