Somerset Trojans 2 Hamilton Parish 4

Hamilton Parish became the first club to progress to the next stage of the Dudley Eve Trophy after overcoming Somerset Trojans in a six-goal thriller at Goose Gosling Field on Sunday.

Building on the 1-0 victory over Devonshire Cougars in their opening match of the season, Parish made it back-to-back wins to cement their position at the top of group B and secure their passage through to the next round.

A brace from summer signing Justin Bell was added to by Aaron Nelson and Kion Knights to finally see off a spirited young Trojans outfit who had levelled at 1-1 through Jeze Butterfield, with Jaden Ratteray-Smith pulling another back at 3-1 down.

Parish coach Sergio Goater, who has been encouraged by his side’s start to the new campaign, sees no reason why his players cannot now go on and challenge for the title.

“I’m really pleased to be able to make it through to the next phase unscathed,” said Goater, who despite being pleased with the result, warned there is still work to be done.

“We might as well try to go on and win it now, there’s no reason why not, we’re that bit closer now.

“I’m pleased with the outcome, but I definitely feel like we made hard work of it. We need to learn to manage the game a little better, but that will come.

“It’s definitely been a positive start to the season. People will also consider Hamilton Parish as a smaller club, but we’ve beaten two clubs that are considered bigger in name than us, so if we’re going to have to be giantkillers than so be it.”

Parish got off to a flying start, opening the scoring in the fifth minute as a long ball out from the back somehow found its way through to Bell, who kept his composure to race through and slot the ball under the onrushing Kyjuan Symonds.

To their credit, Trojans responded well, finding their feet in the encounter before deservedly getting level in the 29th minute. Butterfield was alert to seize upon a poor pass across the backline before driving into the area and calmly firing past Nigel Burgess.

However, having found a route back into the match, Trojans were left to rue a slack six-minute spell as they found themselves 3-1 down the interval.

Parish restored the lead from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute when Bell picked himself up after being bundled over in the area before sending Symonds the wrong to fire into the bottom right corner.

Just three minutes later Nelson added a third in spectacular style. Picking up possession on the right-hand side 25 yards from goal, the defender capitalised on the space and time afforded to him by arrowing a thunderous strike past the desperate reach of Symonds and into the top-left corner.

With just five minutes of the second half played Trojans’ task was made even harder as they lost Malik Joel to a knee injury, with the defender having to be carried off after a seven-minute delay to proceedings.

Despite that setback Jensen Rogers’ side cut the deficit in the 64th minute as substitute Enrique Mendes did brilliantly down the right-hand side before cutting the ball back to Jaden Ratteray-Smith, who guided a first-time effort into the bottom-left corner.

However, just as in the first half, they were made to rue a lapse in concentration when Parish restored their two-goal advantage five minutes later. Receiving possession in space in the midfield, Samario Valasse-Paul picked out Knights with a floated pass over the top, with the latter beating goalkeeper Symonds to the ball to head home.

Trojans continued to push forward with Butterfield going close to adding a third with 15 minutes remaining as his speculative 30-yard effort beat Burgess, but not the upright.

Further chances came and went in the closing stages with Burgess denying both Mendes and fellow substitute Paris Robinson to ensure Parish held on for a hard-fought three points.

SCORERS

Somerset Trojans: J Butterfield 29, Jaden Rattery-Smith 64.

Hamilton Parish: Bell 10, 33, Nelson 36, Knights.

TEAMS

Somerset Trojans (4-5-1): K Symonds 6 – M Joel 6 (sub: K Lann, 52min 6), M Tear-Deleon 6, M Nisbett-Tankard 6, K Evans 7 – J Butterfield 7, J Shields 6 (sub: M Eve, 88), R Russell 6 (sub: J Simmons, 66), Jaden Rattery-Smith 7 (sub: P Robinson 88), Jaz Rattery-Smith 7 – K McNeil 6 (sub: E Mendes 46, 7). Substitutes not used: K Coddington. Booked: Symonds, Robinson.

Hamilton Parish (4-5-1): N Burgess 7 – A Nelson 7 (sub: R McKittrick 39, 6), Q Outerbridge 7, Z Burgess 6, J Bean 6 (sub: T Welch, 73) – D Richardson 8, S Valasse-Paul 8, K Knights 7, J Bell 8, N Brockington 6 (sub: S McKittrick, 82) – C Lindo. Substitutes not used: M Turner.

Referee: A Francis