Defending Martonmere Cup champions Somerset advanced to the semifinals of the competition last night at PHC Stadium, after doing it the hard way against a spirited PHC side.

The Trojans failed to capitalise on a number of corners in the first half when they held the upper hand and when the home team broke the deadlock just minutes into the second half it proved to be just the wake up call the champions needed.

The equaliser came in the 59th minute through a smartly-executed freekick by fullback George Cann, and then it was left to substitute Armel Thomas to notch the winner two minutes into injury time.

Stoppage time was added on after play was held up for a few minutes to attend to a serious injury to PHC substitute Shawn Stovell who suffered a concussion after a clash of heads with Andre Rahman in the 87th minute when Stovell won the challenge.

Both teams wasted some good scoring opportunities with all the excitement packed into the second half of the vital contest. PHC's Sammy Swan put a shot wide at the second attempt following a freekick 25 yards from goal by Kevin Dill in the 11th minute.

At the other end Lamaul Crofton hit a left-footed shot over the crossbar after a short cross from the right from Billy Kirkpatrick set him up from near the edge of the penalty area.

Somerset failed to capitalise on a number of corners they won in the first half, clearly missing a player to dominate in the air as Mike Dill and his defence coped well.

Despite a period of dominance by Somerset late in the half, it was PHC who came close to scoring four minutes before the break when Swan hit a low shot on the turn that went just wide of the near post.

The second half was only three minutes old when the Zebras stunned Somerset by taking the lead through Sheridan Ming, who drove in a right foot shot from an angle at the far post that went in off the underside of the crossbar.

The tempo of the game picked up immediately, but it was PHC who continued to do most of the attacking as they sought an insurance goal. Lanky striker Randy Boyles was foiled in front of the goal as he tried to connect on a Swan cross.

It took Somerset just 11 minutes to wipe out the PHC lead as they got back on level terms with a smartly-executed freekick from 24-year-old Cann from the edge of the penalty area.

Ty Williams did not set up his wall properly enough to cover the near post and Cann saw enough of an opening to try his luck with a low curling left foot shot that found the target with Williams scrambling to keep it out.

Somerset brought on Steven Arorash for defender Jermaine Burrows and made a tactical switch to 4-4-2, with Kirkpatrick going back into midfield and Rahman to defence, as coach Larry Hunt decided to protect the point they needed to advance.

There were some anxious moments in the Somerset defence before their second substitute, Thomas, put paid to PHC's chances with an injury time shot from inside the box that sliced off his boot and the ball went in off the inside of the far post.

PHC: T.Williams; N.Simons (T.Russell 65 min.), M.Dill, M.Gilbert, B.Bean; K.Dill, O.Steede, A.Stovell; R.Boyles, S.Swan, S.Ming (S.Stovell 72 min.).

Somerset: A.Swan; P.Place, D.DeRoza, J.Burrows (S.Arorash 63 min.), G.Cann; A.Burchall, A.Rahman, R.Tucker; L.Crofton, B.Kirkpatrick, D.Basden (A.Thomas 81 min.).

Referee: Esten Curtis.

Men of the match: Anthony Stovell (PHC), Andrew Rahman (Somerset).