Somerset Eagles 3 Somerset Trojans 1

Somerset Eagles soared to great heights at White Hill Field yesterday, dismantling a toothless Somerset Trojans side 3-1 to lay claim to bragging rights in the west.

A routine 31st minute tap-in by Stevie Dread and two clinically executed second-half tallies from skipper Lamaul Crofton laid the foundation for Eagles' second win of the season and sent Trojans spiralling out of first place.

Despite yesterday's performance, Eagles remain grounded at the bottom of the pile. However, this apparently had no effect on Eagles' loyal supporters who celebrated the final whistle as if they had already sewn up the league title.

Eagles' win came at a costly price as defender Desmond Burgess received his marching orders late in the second half for persistently arguing with referee Stuart Crockwell.

"Somerset came into the game on top of the league and I think that they took it for granted," said Eagles coach Marc Bean. "We showed today that we have the talent to outplay any team and so I'm very pleased. It was a total team effort and hopefully this will be a good omen for changing the season and getting ourselves back into a more competitive position"

If this was a good omen for Eagles, then an 11th-minute penalty miss by Trojans' Damon Ming must have been an indication for far worse things to come for the visitors.

While Eagles were slow getting out of first gear, Trojans seemed to find the spacious White Hill Field much to their liking.

And Trojans should have grabbed the lead after former Somerset player Musceo Hunt hacked down Ming in the box. But Eagles `keeper Adrian Burrows was up to the task, denying the diminutive Trojan forward by diving to his right.

Burrows' heroics seemed to inspire Eagles as wiry midfielder Jelani (Roots) Butterfield tested Timmy Figureido from long range with a curling effort which just missed its mark. Veteran Trojan defender Richard Scott was then called on to deny Crofton as he moved in for the kill while at the other end Hunt received a booking for shoving Simons.

But there would be no denying Eagles moments before the half when Dread capitalised on a fine Crofton run down Trojans right-flank by steering the ball past a hapless Figureido.

Displeased with his team's first-half output, Trojan coach Mark Trott handed his players a tongue lashing at the break, but for all his efforts it was Eagles who would take firm command of the second half by converting two unanswered quickfire strikes.

After latching onto a through ball, Crofton left three Trojans defenders in his wake before beating Figureido at the near post from close range and then the gifted forward duplicated the feat by notching his second and Eagles' third in the 61st minute.

This prompted coach Trott to insert Marvin Belboda and Dwight Basden in a bid to jump start the side's punchless attack but by that time Eagles already appeared to have had the match safely tucked away, even when they lost Burgess in the 74th minute to a red card.

Trojans' consolation came by way of a Torry Davis goal eight minutes from time while Belboda had a 90th-minute goal disallowed for offside.

Somerset Eagles: A.Burrows, M.Hunt, D.Burgess, N.Smith, S.Simmons, J.Butterfield, J.Tucker (A.Lambert, 45, mins), S.Dill ((R.Wilson, 61 mins), K.Simmons, S.Dread (D.Dowling, 61 mins), L.Croften.

Somerset Trojans: T.Figureido, G.Ray, R.Scott, K.Roberts, A.Rahman (M.Belboda, 57 mins), D.Francis, T.Davis, D.Lawler (S.Riley, 45 mins), D.Stovell, D.Ming, R.Simons (D.Basden, 67 mins).

Booked: M.Hunt, R.Wilson (Eagles)

Sent off: D.Burgess (Eagles)

Men of the match: L.Crofton (Eagles); T.Davis (Trojans)

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.