Somerset 0 Dandy Town 0

With both Wolves and Devonshire Colts suffering losses yesterday, Dandy Town missed a golden opportunity to gain valuable ground on the leaders as they were held to a scoreless draw by a determined Somerset outfit.

After Town's Brendan O'Riordan probed Trojans' defence in the opening minutes with a long range effort that ‘keeper Timmy Figureido did well to smother, the visitors repeatedly found themselves deep in Somerset terrain, with a goal always looking imminent.

But despite a host of chances it never came.

In the 11th minute Seyoum Tuzo earned possession just outside the Somerset penalty area and executed a beautiful lob over the outstretched hands of Figureido before wheeling off on a celebratory run. But referee Cal Simons promptly ruled the effort offside.

Determined not to be outdone, Somerset's Dwight Basden nearly opened his team's account moments later, re-directing an Omar Shakir cross just over the bar, while at the other end Janeiro Tucker, Paul Cann, and Devarr Boyles kept the Trojans' defence busy.

Midway through the half, Somerset's Tokia Russell saw his free kick from just outside of the box narrowly miss the target, and Randy Simmons fired wide of the far post after finding himself in unfamiliar territory inside the area.

Karl Roberts and Shakir also had efforts cleared away as Somerset sought to take the initiative, but not before former Trojan David Burchall muted the vociferous Somerset following with a firm header that came awfully close moments before the half.

In the second half, it was Somerset who would fire the opening salvo with Basden opting to send in a weak cross rather than shooting.

In what would ultimately prove to be the best chance for the Hornets, Tucker had his cross from out on the left roll harmlessly across the goal with both Cann and Burchall in hot pursuit.

Somerset's lively striker Rohaan Simons couldn't believe his luck when his shot from six yards narrowly missed the mark in the 75th minute. Then Town suffered a setback when Boyles was stretchered off with an ankle injury after being sandwiched between two players.

Somerset staged a late flurry that almost caught the visitors napping but Smith in the Town goal was equal to the challenge, diving low to his left to thwart a point- blank effort from Lawler.

Somerset: T.Figureido, T.Fubler, R.Scott, K.Roberts, A.Rahman, T.Russell, R.Simmons, D.Lawler, O.Shakir, D.Basden, R.Simons, (S.Ming 70 mins.).

Dandy Town: J.Smith, L.Furbert, M.Lowe, P.Douglas, D.Binns, B. O'Riordan, D.Boyles, D.Burchall, P.Cann, S.Tuzo, (R.Tucker 65 mins.), J.Tucker, (C.Hill 80 mins.), (K.Hurdle 85 mins.).

Bookings: Randy Simmons (Somerset); Pernell Douglas (Dandy Town).

Men of the Match: David Lawler (Somerset); Jason Smith (Dandy Town).

Referee: Cal Simons.