Deovnshire Cougars moved off the bottom of the Coca Cola First Division standings and pulled Somerset trojans further into the relegation zone with their second straight victory last night at Devonshire Rec.

Their victory was secured in the 75th minute when Aljame Zuill was clipped in the penalty box by full-back Shaun Riley after he raced through.

Despite protest from several Somerset players, referee Esten Curtis' stood firm in his decision and Zuill kept his composure to beat Winslow Williams with his low shot from the spot.

The result means that Cougars are now level on points with Somerset in what is shaping up to be an interesting relegation battle between four teams.

Zuill missed a good chance to add a third two minutes into injury time when Wali Salaam's pass put him clear but he shot just wide with only Williams to beat.

Somerset almost took the lead themselves seven minutes before Cougars' second goal when Sean Simmons got through into the box and lobbed the ball over the advancing Tori Henry in goal, and then watched as the ball grazed the outside of the post.

Cougars, fresh off their confidence boosting victory over PHC last week, took the lead in the 16th minute when Salaam ran onto a ball in the box and smashed a low shot past Williams.

The Trojans, making three changes from their last match as Lamaul Crofton and Clifton Anderson both started up front, went close to an equaliser in the 21st minute when a high ball into the Cougars penalty area saw Henry fail to punch it clear. Crofton followed up and put a weak shot towards goal but Shawn Smith booted the ball clear.

Somerset's equaliser came eight minutes before the break when a cross from the right was not cleared by the Cougars defence and Anderson drove a left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Then a long range shot from Simmons just missed the target as the visitors went close just before the break.

The loss leaves Somerset still without a win since last October and two years after being relegated to the Second Division for the first time, there is a real threat of dropping back into the Second Division.

Twice already in 1998 Somerset have failed to beat teams in the bottom half of the tables, while Cougars have done just that to boost their own survival hopes.

Dev.Cougars: T.Henry; S.Coddington, S.Smith, G.Butterfield, M.Dill, S.Caisey, D.Trott, W.Salaam, D.Brangman (R.Swan 53min), A.Zuill, P.Clarke (M.Smith 86min).

Somerset: W.Williams; S.Riley, D.Woolridge, K.Roberts, A.Burchall, S.Simmons, A.Rahman, J.Scott (M.Brangman 62min), D.Burchall, C.Anderson (R.Scott 78min), L.Crofton (M.Dill 65min).

Referee: Esten Curtis Men of the match: Wali Salaam (Cougvars), Andrew Rahman (Somerset).

Wolves 2 Ham. Parish 3 Hamilton Parish ended Wolves' perfect run in the Second Division in the opening match last night.

Wolves, having won all eight league matches previously and victors twice this season over Parish, were stunned to find themselves 3-0 down after just 15 minutes as Parish's attacking plan paid off. As was the case in the recent FA Cup game, two penalties were also missed as all five goals came in the first 31 minutes.

Parish drew first blood after only 50 seconds when Corey Hill's header from a Sean Dill cross resulted in the ball being deflected over the line by Dean Pitt as an own goal was credited.

In the third minute Ricky Hill scored the first of his two goals, scoring from deep on the right to catch Hewvonnie Brown off his line.

Hill made it 3-0 in the 15th minute when he scored with a low shot after following up on a cross by brother Corey from a freekick which was not cleared.

Wolves missed a crucial penalty in the 19th minute when Khari Sharrieff's spotkick was saved by 'keeper Kevin Bean. However, two goals in the space of six minutes brought them back into the game.

Vincent Minors opened their account in the 25th minute when he scored from close range from a Julian Francis corner and soon after Francis himself scored after beating Bean to a ball in the box and scoring with a header.

No further goals came in the second half though Ricky Hill missed a penalty in the 57th minute when, after running up to the ball and pausing and forcing Brown to commit himself, the veteran striker still shot straight to the grounded 'keeper.