This may finally be the year that Somerset Trojans land the Dudley Eve Trophy.

Last night at Devonshire Rec. field they ripped apart off-form Devonshire Colts to move into the winners' bracket of this double-elimination competition. And on this performance they could just go all the way and win the one trophy that has eluded them.

Somerset, even without the likes of Rodney Bascome, Kelly Simmons and Dennis Brown, were too much for Colts who were forced to reshuffle their defence because of injuries.

After a first half in total control, it was surprising Somerset had to wait until the 28th minute to take the lead. Before then they created the best of the chances as Jerry Webb was outstanding down the left flank and the man behind most of the Trojans' moves.

Somerset had the first chance in the sixth minute when college student Kenny Thompson poked a shot wide from close range. Moments later Thompson, the forgotten man of Bermuda's World Cup campaign, laid on a chance for Webb, which was put wide of the far post.

The best of the early chances were falling to Thompson and he missed an easy one in the 10th minute when the ball broke to him just inside the box only to see him put his effort wide from 10 yards.

With Randy Simmons, Reggie Tucker and Shannon Morrissey controlling the midfield, the chances were plentiful for Somerset as Webb supplied a cross to the far post where Tucker raced through on the blind side unmarked before shooting wide in the 25th minute.

Colts were down to 10 men with Yul Wade off the field changing his boots when Somerset took the lead, as Thompson finished off a move started deep in his own half by Webb, scoring past Andre Hendrickson from an acute angle.

Somerset were bubbling with confidence and almost had a second in the 32nd minute when Simmons started a move by passing to the far side to Thompson and then racing into the box to receive the return pass before putting his effort over the bar.

Goal number two came six minutes before the end of the half when Tucker did some good work down the right and crossed for Webb to side-foot home a simple goal from six yards.

Somerset played the last five minutes of the half with 10 men after top scorer Dwight Basden went off with a gashed knee after a hard challenge from Wade.

Basden returned in the second half and Somerset picked up where they left off, though Colts, too, lifted their own game.

Colts' best chance came in the 52nd minute when a firm shot from captain Craig Smith on the left side was blocked at the near post by Winslow Williams before Smith followed up to force the ball over the line for a goal kick.

Thompson let Colts off the hook at the other end when he opted to try to bring the ball under control inside the box following a Brian Simons pass and lost a good scoring chance.

However, the 28-year-old made amends in the 61st minute when, on a quick break down the left, he got on the end of Webb's cross, and drove a left-foot shot past the exposed Hendrickson from close range.

Somerset were denied a fourth goal when youngster Jahmal Samuels cleared off the line in the 72nd minute.

Colts had two players booked; substitute Jay Bean for an off-the-ball incident, which linesman Richard Knight drew to referee Roddy Burchall's attention in the 71st minute, and captain Smith in the 84th for dissent.

Somerset: W.Williams; B.Simons, P.Place, T.Dickinson, L.Simmons; R.Simmons, R.Tucker (A.Burchall, 69 mins), S.Morrissey; J.Webb, D.Basden (B.Kirkpatrick, 62 mins), K.Thompson.

Devonshire Colts: A.Hendrickson; D.Williams, D.Wright, J.Samuels, A.Wilson; M.Ray, H.Trott, V.Ball; Y.Wade (J.Bean, 62 mins), C.Smith, K.Smith (M.Holdipp, 66 mins).

Referee: Roddy Burchall.

Men of the match: Jerry Webb (Somerset); Dennis Williams (Devonshire Colts).

THOMPSON -- Double strike.