Somerset Trojans 2 Devonshire Cougars

A goal in each half gave Somerset Trojans a comfortable win in their Dudley Eve Trophy opener against Devonshire Cougars at PHC Field yesterday — but it was the final ten minutes that captured the moments of the match.

Cougars took the upper hand in the group B opener with two consecutive attempts on goal. Lovince Tota used his speed to leave two players in his wake before cutting inside from the left and unleashed a shot which was deflected for a corner.

Minutes later, Tota was put through only to be chased by captain Trevin Ming, forcing him to rush his shot, which went straight at goalkeeper Shaquille Bean.

The match saw Ka’ri Richards, 15, make her debut as an assistant referee and she did an impressive job, keeping up with play and was confident in her decision-making.

Trojans scored against the run of play when Jadan Ratteray-Smith picked up a clearance in the middle of the park before letting D-Andre Wainwright loose down the middle. Wainwright rode a sliding tackle and hit a low, firm drive past the advancing Casey Hardtman in the Cougars goal.

Bean denied Cougars again when Tota squared a ball back for Moses Steede to hit a first-time scorcher, bringing an acrobatic save by the goalkeeper.

The save seemed to energise Trojans as they picked up the tempo and started to run at the Cougars.

The pressure paid off when Damain Simmons was late in a tackle with Jadan Ratteray-Smith inside the penalty area, with referee Antoine Augustus pointing to the spot. Substitute Damon Ming sent Hardtman the wrong way to score.

Bean turned from hero to villain in the 81st minute. He was guilty of dribbling the ball unnecessarily and was fouled by Cougars substitute Nyeem Simmons. There was an exchange of words and bumping of chests before Zari Simmons ran past the referee and gave Bean a hard shove.

Simmons was given a red card for violent conduct and had to be escorted off the field by his team-mates while Bean was being restrained by his team-mates.

Order was restored after about three minutes but Bean was then sent off for making obscene gestures to spectators behind the goal. He had to be escorted off the field of play by his team-mates as he delivered an explicit and verbal assault towards his coach Musceo Hunt and a woman behind the Trojans bench.

When the game finished, Bean returnd to the pitch and headed towards the referee and then the spectators behind the goal. Security staff intervened only for Bean to offer resistance.

Police in attendance assisted in removing Bean from the field and escorted him away in handcuffs.

TEAMS

Somerset Trojans (4-1-4-1): S Bean — H Butterfield, J Hill (D Lister, 66min), T Ming, C Durham — Jadan Ratteray-Smith — J Greaves (D Swan, 58), M Joell, J Butterfield, A Seaman (Jaz Ratteray-Smith, 60) — D Wainwright. Sent off: Bean. Booked: M Joell.

Devonshire Cougars (4-1-3-2): C Hardtman — T Woodley, Zekiro White (N Simmons, 75), Zeko White, Z Simmons — C Maybury (D Simmons, 32) — Z Simmons, M Steede, D Daniels — L Tota, J Mouchette (J Smith, 56). Sent off: Simmons. Booked: Steede.

Referee: A Augustus.