Paget Lions 1 Somerset Trojans 1

Somerset Trojans were left devastated at Southampton Oval after Dion Stovell’s stoppage-time equaliser for Paget Lions left the West Enders rooted to the bottom of the table, six points from safety with three matches remaining.

The Trojans were hanging on to the lead given to them by Jaz Ratteray-Smith’s penalty early in the second half.

Referee Lloyd Christopher awarded the spot kick after Deunte Darrell was fouled by McQuinn Burch as he raced through on the left side of the box.

Victory would have lifted Somerset off the bottom and ahead of fellow relegation strugglers Paget on goal difference.

The point helped neither team as both North Village and Devonshire Cougars, two of the three teams just above them, managed to pick up wins to move six points clear of the relegations zone.

Paget, desperate for an equaliser, brought on DeMarlo Curtis in the 65th minute to boost their attack, with Robert Richardson also pushing forward from defence as they enjoyed a period of pressure midway through the second half.

Their determination paid off two minutes into added time when Stovell, a former Trojans player, drove a left-footed shot into the far bottom corner from an angle.

Stovell had earlier put a left-footed shot from the other side of the six-yard box wide o in the opening minutes of the second half after a free kick on the left side.

Both teams had a couple of chances in the first half, with Damon Swan sending Darrell through before Paget goalkeeper Ricardo Brangman made an important block. At the other end, Stovell broke through with Jaden Ratteray-Smith in pursuit before goalkeeper Shaquille Bean made the save.

Minutes later, Paget’s Tahjae Welch was allowed to turn and run towards the Somerset on the left before curling his shot wide of the far post. With points so vital, a lot of intensity was shown by both teams with referee Christopher kept busy with nine bookings, four from Paget and five from Somerset.

Scorers

Paget Stovell 90+2

Somerset Jaz Ratteray-Smith (pen) 52

Teams

Paget (4-4-2): R Brangman — N Carpenter, M Burch, R Richardson, J Carpenter — D Dill (sub: D Curtis, 65), T Welch, D Hart, C Smith — A Bean (sub: K Smith, 52), D Stovell. Substitutes not used: W Bean, A Dean. Booked: N Carpenter, Welch, Dill, Hart.

Somerset (3-5-2): S Bean — T Ming, S Brangman, C Durham — D Swan, A Trott, Jaz Ratteray-Smith, Jadan Ratteray-Smith (sub: J Butterfield, 46), J Corday — Deunte Darrell (sub: H Butterfield, 86), D Wainwright (sub: Z Smith, 82). Substitutes not used: M Henschke, K Hollis, M Joell, A Seaman. Booked: Jadan Ratteray-Smith, Trott, J Butterfield, Jaz Ratteray-Smith, Swan.

Referee: L Christopher