At half-time in this First Division encounter at White Hill Field, a spectator started towards the exit, telling his companion, only half-jokingly, to phone him up and let him know the final score.

He must have known something the rest of us did not: elsewhere there was a feeling that after an uninspiring first 45 minutes, the match could only get better.

It didn't.

In fact, it got thoroughly wretched, as the lack of urgency of the first half was gradually usurped by a scrappy, untidy affair almost totally devoid of goalmouth action.

It is early days in the league season but what was most disappointing was an apparent complete lack of passion among the players to try to win the game.

For Somerset, perhaps, there is some excuse. Only reprieved late in the summer from playing Second Division football by the withdrawal of Hotels, they have a rebuilding programme on their hands.

They pass the ball neatly, but mainly sideways and backwards in their own half. Shannon Morrisey has a nice touch in midfield, if at times he is a little casual, and has the vision and ability to be constantly looking for the ball inside the last defender.

But after a wasteful and at times unlucky season in front of goal under Randy Horton last year, it looks as if new coach Andrew Bascome will have his work cut out in engendering the confidence the team needs to push forward and support one another.

Colts, although they have also had upheaval in the coaching department, have had a reasonable start to the campaign, with a win against Boulevard last weekend in their opening fixture to add to draws which qualified them for the semi-finals of the Martonmere Trophy.

And in Keishon Smith and Aljame Zuill they have two players with among the best eyes for goal on the Island.

As it was, time and time again, Smith was forced to forage deep to get possession of the ball, meaning he was seldom in areas where he could hurt his opponents.

Zuill, meanwhile, was looking a shadow of the man who stood out in the Cougars' attack last season, failing late in the first half with a shot from the edge of the box and a free header which didn't trouble Winslow Williams between the Somerset posts.

An early example of what was to follow came as early as the fifth minute.

Colts keeper Troy Hall tried to dribble the ball out of his area and was strongly tackled by an alert Franklyn Simmons.

But with the goal gaping and defenders struggling to get back to cover, there was no other Trojans player close enough to the action to take advantage.

Trojans' hopes were not helped when Curtis Grant limped off in the 20th minute with what appeared to be a hamstring problem.

It took 60 minutes for Colts to summon up a really good opening. Keishon Smith sent in a telling ball over the last defender for Marvin Belboda, on only moments earlier for Nathan Samuels, to run on to.

The substitute took the ball down well on the move, but his shot, with only Williams to beat, went into the side-netting. Belboda may have been relieved to subsequently notice the linesman's flag up for offside.

Devonshire Colts: T.Hall, S.Burgess, M.Hollis, J.Simmons, S.Waldron, N.Samuels (M.Belboda 59 mins), K.Smith, T.Smith (J.Belboda 54 mins), A.Anderson, A.Zuill, M.Gibbons Somerset: W.Williams, K.Roberts, A.Rahman, R.Scott, T.Christopher, S.Riley, R.Brangman (R.Bascome 45 mins), E.Dean, S.Morrisey, F.Simmons (D.Woolridge 67 mins), C.Grant (R.Wilson 20 mins) Referee: Vance Campbell Men of the match: M.Belboda (Colts); K.Roberts (Somerset) Dandy Town 2 H.Parish 1 Promoted Parish need to heed Saturday night's game as a wake-up call that this is the First Division! Last weekend, against North Village, they took an early lead which they failed to hold on to, and it was the same again at St John's Field.

Parish went ahead in the fourth minute after being awarded a free kick to the right of the 18-yard box.

Town failed to clear and Corey Hill pounced on the rebound from 16 yards to drive a spectacular dipping shot over the head of Jason Smith.

Town, who also conceded an early goal to Vasco in their opening fixture, once again had to fight their way back into the game.

Lionel Furbert and Kris Martin worked well together down the right flank.

Their probing presented an opportunity for the hard working McLee Smith who was unfortunate in the 14th minute when he didn't connect properly and his shot agonisingly trickled across the face of the goal.

Minutes later, an opportunity presented itself at the other end when Corey Hill found an unmarked Irving Burgess with a good ball which Burgess should have made better use of.

Town enjoyed the majority of the possession for the rest of the first half and their hard work paid off when marker Dano Outerbridge equalised from a corner in the 25th minute.

They were unlucky not to add two more, first when Lionel Furbert provided a firm low cross which sped across the face of the goal and then when Darron (Dukey) Simons saw his header on the stroke of half-time drop just inches over the bar.

Town picked up where they left off and grabbed another goal in the 50th minute. This time Simons was the beneficiary, scoring from eight yards out as Devarr Boyles seemingly miskicked the initial shot.

At the other end Tajmal Webb, who was booked in the 52nd minute for a hard tackle on Simons, was unlucky in the 64th minute after a goalmouth scramble.

Again Parish went looking for the equaliser when Hill had Jason Smith at full length from a free kick after his nephew, Clevon, was brought down by Lionel Furbert in the 75th minute.

Town should have added another in the 80th minute after some good passing in their midfield found Wolde Place, who presented an unmarked Simons with a gift. However, Simons' shot left much to be desired.

Parish lost the impressive Kuma Smith in the 87th minute, sent off after picking up a second yellow card. And Town nearly increased their lead when Wolde Place went close moments before the end.

Dandy Town: J.Smith; J.Marshall, D.Bailey, D.Outerbridge, L.Furbert, H.Wolffe, D.Boyles, R.Tucker (P.Cann 65 mins), K.Martin (M.Trott 75 mins), D.Simons, M.Smith (W.Place 82 mins).

Hamilton Parish: C.Davis; A.Baker, K.Smith, T.Webb (L.Robinson 85min), C.Caisey, K.Burchall, J.Belboda, Cl.Hill (J.Dill 75min), I.Burgess, S.Dill (S.Burgess 60 mins), Cor.Hill.

Men of the match: Devarr Boyles (Dandy Town), Chris Caisey (Ham. Parish).