Three goals in four minutes late in the first half handed PHC a convincing win over newly-promoted Somerset Eagles at White Hill Field to leave both sides with a win and a loss after their opening two games of the 1995/96 season.

Until the goals came, an unexciting tussle was fairly open with neither side establishing a clear dominance in a shapeless and occasionally listless first half played in late summer heat with a light breeze.

With PHC catching the Eagles offside within a few yards of the half-way line time and again, and the PHC attack looking unconvincing inside their opponents' 18-yard box, the match looked likely to remain goalless throughout as the last ten minutes of the first half approached.

But in the 38th minute, PHC's tireless Sheridan Ming found space on the right and laid an inch-perfect cross at the feet of incoming Shawn Simons, who scored on the ground from three yards out, giving Eagles' keeper Ricardo Tucker no chance.

Within three minutes, before Eagles had a chance to regroup, PHC's Mark Smith rose to meet a corner, again from the right, and headed a superb effort past the Eagles' keeper.

Two goals, particularly this late in the first half, looked like an insurmountable obstacle for the Somerset team, and less than 30 seconds later Winston Trott extinguished any hopes they may have had when Ming produced another trademark run down the right wing before crossing the ball with deadly accuracy to Trott's right foot.

Three goals up at half time put PHC in the drivers' seat for the second half, which became a test of confidence for the young Somerset Eagles. They played without much conviction, but saw a glimmer of hope in the 84th minute when a player was penalised for putting his foot up dangerously near an opposing player's head.

The referee awarded an indirect free kick a little less than ten yards from the PHC goal-line. With every member of the Zebras standing on the line, the free kick was touched on to Everett Wellman, but before he could shoot, PHC goalie Jason Robinson was adjudged to have encroached, and was booked.

Perhaps the booking sapped his confidence, or perhaps the sheer force with which Wellman blasted the retaken free kick into the roof of the net was enough to persuade Robinson and his colleagues to get out of its way.

The goal was little consolation to the Eagles, who will need to shore up their defence, particularly on the right, if they are to enjoy -- and survive -- this season's First Division competition.

Somerset Eagles : R.Tucker, W.Wellman, C.Williams (R.Simons, 53 mins), J.Richards, T.Smith, F.Smith, O.Riley, R.Brangman (R.Wilson, 49 mins), D.Minors, S.Burrows, E.Wellman.

PHC : J.Robinson, M.Wade (D.Francis, 19 mins), D.Outerbridge, S.Trott, C.Dowling, D.Rawlins, W.Crockwell, S.Simons, M.Smith (D.Robinson 62 mins), S.Ming, W.Trott (R.Lightbourne, 67 mins).

Referee : Roddy Burchall.

Men of the match : Sheridan Ming (PHC); Oscar Riley (Somerset).