match between Somerset's Under-19 side and English public school Millfield was abandoned for rough play.

Referee Richard Knight brought the match to an abrupt halt after 69 minutes with Millfield leading 8-0 at Bernard Park.

Knight had already sent off three Somerset players, including Kwame Tucker, who stars with the First Division champions and scored the winning goal in the Martonmere Cup final, and Dandy Town's First Division goalkeeper Ricky Tucker, who was a guest player. The goalkeeper was red-carded for a professional foul.

The other player sent off wore number nine, but upon writing his report, Knight said there was no corresponding number on the team sheet.

The young Trojans started the match with seven players and finished the first half with nine.

Knight said he stopped the match before any of the young Englishmen were seriously hurt. "I thought the game was getting out of hand,'' said Knight.

"Before someone got hurt bad I had to stop it. It was heading that way because the Somerset players were getting frustrated.

"They were not playing football, just deliberately fouling. They did not seem interested in playing anyway. The coach and manager of the English team said I did the best I could do. It could have been worse if no referee showed up.'' Knight added that in talks with some of the local players, they were only just contacted by the club today concerning their availability. He was the only official at the match.

The abandonment overshadowed the opening of the three other divisions in the competition, sponsored by Lanzera, which was earlier hit by the withdrawal of two teams -- Devonshire Colts in the Under-16 division and Somerset in the Under-14 division. The groups in each are now only three strong. Devonshire Colts beat Hamilton Parish 4-0 in the Under-12 category with goals coming from Jahkee Smith (two), Omar Butterfield and Jamel Blakeney.

Yesterday's only match in the Under-16 division saw American side W.S. Elite beat Somerset 2-1. Taj Reid and Josh Richardson scored for the team from Warrington, Pennsylvania, while Dawuud Tucker netted for Somerset.

The Under-19 match that did finish saw Devonshire Colts and PHC draw 2-2.

Tajmal Webb and Sergio Goater netted for Colts while PHC called on players of First Division experience, Dano Outerbridge and Ottis Steede, for their goals.

For today's schedule, see Page 22.

VAIN ATTEMPT -- One of the eight Millfield goals gets past Somerset goalkeeper Ricky Tucker before the match was abandoned at Bernard Park yesterday. Tucker was amongst the three players sent off by referee Richard Knight.