Somerset Trojans 1

Devonshire Colts 4

Two goals from Ryan Nesbitt helped fire Devonshire Colts to their first win of the season against a struggling Somerset Trojans who were second best throughout the heated encounter.

Worryingly for coach Dennis Brown the defeat could have been even more emphatic had it not been for the heroics of keeper Timmy Figureido and some disputable refereeing decisions.

Nesbitt opened the scoring midway through the first period reacting quickly when Aljame Zuill's deflected strike drifted invitingly into his path. Cruelly for Figureido the ball cannoned off his body as he flung himself at Nesbitt's feet and looped agonisingly into the net to give Colts a deserved lead.

But it did not last long with Trojans' skipper Jelani Scott scrambling home a controversial equaliser, which was vehemently protested by Colts after the assistant referee's flag for offside appeared to go unnoticed earlier in the passage of play.

On the stroke of half-time Colts regained their lead through Nesbitt who headed in the impressive Phil Anderson's beautifully weighted back post cross.

It came at the worst possible time for Trojans who seemed devoid of spirit after the break and were fortunate not to find themselves trailing further when Zuill had a goal ruled out.

The veteran striker was the first to react when a long throw-in looped over Figuerido, but referee Anthony Mouchette adjudged the ball to have been untouched and to have already crossed the line before Zuill made sure.

The decision sparked fury from the Colts bench with a seething Ray Jones racing onto the pitch to exchange angry words with the referee. "You probably saw I got very animated after Aljame Zuill's goal was disallowed," the coach later said.

"The referee said the ball had already crossed the line, but I thought the throw-in was flicked-on and touched by Timmy Figureido. It shouldn't have mattered if Aljame touched it or not.

"I was also disappointed their goal was given when the linesman had flagged for offside. I was concerned these two decisions were going to cost us dear, it's happened before."

Anderson, known affectionately as "Rooney" by his teammates capped off his man-of-the-match display by heading home at the near post from a corner on 68 minutes, before Quincy Aberdeen finished the rout cutting in from the left-wing on 72.

Coach Jones praised his players' passion and commitment and singled out his midfield partnership of Anderson and Clevon Hill for setting the game's tempo.

"I'm very happy with the passion and commitment my players showed. I feel we're starting to put into practice the work we do on the training ground.

"I thought we dominated the match from start to finish and the moved the ball well. That's the way we play and that's what brought us success last season. We're not a kick-and-rush side.

"We talked about pressurising them when they had the ball and we never gave them time. Rooney (Anderson) was very effective in midfield with Clevon Hill. He came here as a striker but has played in midfield before. We tried him there in pre-season and he gives us a bit more experience."

Somerset Trojans: T.Figureido, M.Butterfield, K.Simmons, D.Benjamin, A.Lambert, J.Scott, R.Bascome (R.Wilson 56), M.Thomas (J Thompson 48), C.Robinson, D.Swan (J Daniels 59), J.Butterfield.

Devonshire Colts: K.Bean, J.Butterfield, J.Williams, R. Purnell, P. Anderson (O.Ray 85), C. Hill, D.Williams, Q.Aberdeen (T.Foote 81), R.Nesbitt (K.Hollis 79), A. Zuill, M.Williams.

Men of the match: Phil Anderson (Colts); Jelani Scott (Trojans).

Referee: Anthony Mouchette.