Devonshire Colts 1 Somerset Trojans 2

Somerset Trojans snatched all three points with a dramatic winner from Khiari Sharrieff-Hayward four minutes into stoppage time as newly-promoted Devonshire Colts were left to wonder how they departed from the National Stadium empty-handed yesterday.

Colts, who dominated the first half and should have led comfortably at the break, deserved a share of the points when substitute Laquan Thomas wiped out the lead given to the Trojans by captain Trevin Ming midway through the second half.

And just when it seemed both teams would begin their campaign with a point each, Sharrieff-Hayward got on the end of a ball into the box before steering it past goalkeeper Keitaro Darrell for a dramatic winner.

“That’s what football is, you have to play to the last whistle,” said a relieved Danvers Seymour, coach of Somerset.

“Credit to Colts they came out and played a good game and credit to my team for competing to the last whistle.

“It was definitely exciting from start to finish. I’m happy with the three points, but obviously we can improve. We’re happy to get on the scoresheet, hopefully we can move forward more positively.”

Colts certainly did not look out of place in their first match back in the top flight, taking the game to Somerset as they played with plenty of confidence from the opening whistle.

They created most of the chances and went closest to taking the lead in the 27th minute when Rahzir Smith-Jones drove a shot against the crossbar with goalkeeper Dequan Crockwell beaten.

Colts were forced into an early substitution when San-Tze Burgess went off with a hamstring injury moments later, to be replaced by Teniko Eve, one of the players rejoining Colts.

The home team went close again minutes later when fullback Jaquari Paynter crossed into the box after a run down the right, Eve dummied before Jahzardae Samuels’s well-struck shot from range was deflected for a corner.

Somerset’s main contribution in the first half was the four bookings they got from referee Anthony Francis — Matteo Turner, Nacori Smith, Sharrieff-Hayward and Jaz Ratteray-Smith — though Colts bettered that in the second half with six bookings of their own from the 63rd minute as the match continued at a frantic pace and the tackles went in hard.

Somerset started to offer more in the second half, though not before Colts went close again on the hour mark when a run down the right flank by Paynter saw his cross into the six-yard box go untouched against the goal.

They were made to pay when Somerset broke the deadlock seven minutes later when a free kick into the box was not cleared and Ming drove into the roof of the net from twelve yards.

Colts took 11 minutes to respond, getting the equaliser through Thomas who had come on ten minutes earlier as a replacement for striker Chemarl Henry. Colts looked like losing goalkeeper Darrell to a face injury late in the game, but with their three substitutions lready made, Darrell laboured on as the game hung in the balance in the closing minutes before Sharrieff-Hayward popped up with the stoppage time winner.

TEAMS

Devonshire Colts: (4-3-3): K Darrell — J Paynter (sub: E Weldon, 83), K Cann, J Burgess, C Trott — J Salaam, J Samuels, S Burgess (sub: T Eve, 27min) — C Henry (sub: L Thomas, 68), R Jones, R Smith-Jones. Substitutes not used: M Williams, J Francis, C Crichlow, B O’Connor. Booked: Smith-Jones, Cann, Salaam, J Burgess, Weldon, Samuels.

Somerset Trojans (4-3-3): D Crockwell — M Joell (sub: S Tatem, 75min), T Ming, M Turner, M Henschke — Jaden Ratteray-Smith, C Durham, N Smith — J Butterfield, Jaz Ratteray-Smith, K Sharrieff-Hayward (sub: H Butterfield, 90+6). Substitutes not used: A Albouy-Lovell, J Bean,D Swan. Booked: Turner, N Smith, Sharrieff-Hayward, Jaz Ratteray-Smith.

Referee: A Francis.

SCORERS

Devonshire Colts: Thomas 78

Somerset Trojans: Ming 67, Sharrieff-Hayward 90+4