Rather than a soccer match, St. John's Field provided the setting for an execution yesterday.

Swift, decisive and unmerciful was Dandy Town's manner as they laid Somerset's collective head on the chopping block before having it promptly removed.

Chief executioners were Darron Simons and Raymond Beach, who took turns thrusting forth the sword, with Simons twice piercing the back of the net and Beach once.

And, with North Village losing at nearby Bernard Park, the pair's heroics had the additional effect of helping the Hornets take over sole possession of first place in the Premier Division.

Before they could even blink Somerset found themselves two goals down as, after only a minute, Simons took advantage of slack defending in the middle to nip inside centre-backs Richard Scott and John Martin and stab the ball past advancing goalkeeper Timmy Figureido.

Not yet recovered from that initial strike, Somerset found themselves further behind two minutes later, their defensive frailties once again exposed as Beach danced past three defenders and calmly deposited the ball low in the right corner.

Simons almost notched a second in the 13th minute when he slipped through alone once again, but this time was denied by the 'keeper.

While Town frolicked at will Somerset wandered aimlessly, managing occasional attacks, but on each occurrence found Town goalie Jason Smith equal to the task.

Smith was close to perfect, having his sheet ruined in the 43rd minute by Karl Roberts, who converted a penalty after Dwight Basden had been brought down by Sean Smith.

The two goal margin was restored moments later under farcical circumstances that threw even more question marks around the Somerset back-line. Beach played what appeared to be a harmless cross from the right and while the slumbersome Trojans stood and watched, Simons took the opportunity to force the ball home.

Somerset came out with renewed energy for the second half, bringing on Rodney Bascome for the ineffective David Rahman and the forward immediately got in the thick of things and came close to bagging a few goals. However, expert goalkeeping by Smith and wayward shot selection conspired to thwart the forward.

David Burchall likewise had his fair share of opportunities but, like Bascome, could not find a way past Smith.

Beach missed putting icing on the cake as time ran out, his free header from a Simons cross striking the upright with Figureido well beaten.

Town now have a two point lead at the top of the standings over Devonshire Colts, with Village a point further back.

Somerset, meanwhile, find themselves deep in the relegation struggle, the loss dropping them to seventh in the eight-team division.

Dandy Town: J.Smith; L.Furbert, K.Mundy, S.Smith, D.Binns; C.Smith (S.Tuzo 79 mins), P.Cann, K.Smith (R.Tucker 70 mins; D.Boyles; R.Beach, D.Simons.

Somerset: T.Figureido; Dwayne Basden, R.Scott, J.Martin, G.Butterfield; A.Rahman, D.Rahman (R.Bascome 45 mins), J.Dill, K.Roberts; D.Burchall, Dwight Basden.

Referee: Anthony Mouchette.

Men of the match: Jason Smith (Dandy Town); Jermaine Dill (Somerset).

Yellow card: Dwayne Basden (Somerset).

Photos by Arthur Bean Out of my way: Somerset's David Rahman (right) brushes aside a challenge from Dandy Town midfielder Devarr Boyles during the first half of yesterday's encounter at St. John's Field.