Maybe Dandy Town will choose to fire their coach every week if they can be assured of getting performances such as that which transpired Saturday night at Somerset Cricket Club.

The Hornets were able to shake off the blues of the midweek sacking of Robert Calderon and stun league leaders Somerset 3-2 with an expert showing, assuring new man Mark Trott a successful debut as head man.

Carlos Smith opened the scoring in the first half while strike partner Dennis Robinson netted twice in the second before Somerset's Rodney Bascome reduced the margin with two late goals.

Early on though it looked as if many of the Town players were still dazed by the course of events that threatened to tear the team apart.

From the opening whistle Somerset were able to launch several forceful raids on the Town goal and the first inclinations were that of a walkover by the hosts.

In the second minute of play Somerset nearly drew blood when a free kick on the left by Jerry Webb into the penalty area saw Reggie Tucker's firm header barely cleared off the line.

"Going into the match I was questioning whether they would be mentally prepared after what had happened,'' said Trott, Calderon's assistant the past one-and-a-half seasons. "We were shaky early on but fortunately we scored first and that seemed to settle things down for us.'' Having been limited mostly to quick counter-attacks the breakthrough for Town came four minutes prior to the half when adventurous play by Somerset goalkeeper Winslow Williams proved costly.

Williams took a back-pass from a defender and dribbled upfield before attempting to slip the ball to left-back Larry Simmons, but Smith intercepted and guided the ball home from 50 yards out.

For all the constructive build-ups and dashing attacking moves demonstrated by both sides, only one goal was score by at half-time.

Somerset were the more intricate in style with their midfield trio of Tucker, Kelly Simmons and Shannon Morrissey combining well with their forwards.

Meanwhile, Dandy Town were content to use the speed of Smith and Walter Musson up front as well as Robinson's opportunistic talents to stretch the opposing defence.

Just as the first half concluded, so did the second start when Town were immediately back on the offensive, doubling their lead five minutes following the break.

Williams was again at fault, this time allowing a Wylie Rudo free kick from midway on the right side to bounce in the six-yard box, eluding his grasp and leaving an ever grateful Robinson the simple task of tapping into an empty net from close range.

Trojans coach Larry Hunt immediately had Bascome and former skipper Dennis Brown up off the bench warming up, but even their introduction could not prevent Town increasing their lead further.

This time Paul Cann escaped the offside trap and ran unmolested at goal. As Williams advanced Cann unselfishly laid the ball to Robinson, following up to his left and he again slotted the ball into an unmanned goal.

Still Somerset would not surrender as they immediately responded two minutes later through Bascome. And he would pop up again to score a minute before the end of regulation time, but this was a night for Town to shine.

Trott admitted to being a bit uneasy heading into the match but was assuredly pleased with the result.

"Going into the match I was the most nervous out of any situation I had been in before, even when I played my first Cup Match.

"I asked them to show character and determination and that's what they did tonight.'' The only damper for the visitors came when Robinson received his marching orders for retaliating against Somerset's Dwight Basden, who had fouled Town 'keeper Ricky Tucker.

Somerset: W.Williams; L.Simmons, T.Dickinson, P.Place, B.Simons; S.Morrissey, K.Simmons (D.Brown, 65 mins); R.Tucker; K.Tucker (R.Bascome, 67 mins), D.Basden, J.Webb.

Dandy Town: R.Tucker; W.Rudo, W.Campbell, N.Paynter, L.Christopher; G.Dyer, P.Douglas, P.Cann; W.Musson, C.Smith, D.Robinson.

Referee: Esten Curtis.

Men of the match: Brian Simons (Somerset); Carlos Smith (Dandy Town).