St George’s Colts 0 Somerset Trojans 1

Somerset Trojans made it two wins out of two against the promoted sides when defender Matteo Turner scored the game’s only goal early in the second half at Wellington Oval yesterday.

Turner went up for a free kick on the right side and, after Malik Joell’s high ball into the box was not cleared, blasted the ball home from close range.

Just minutes earlier, Dequan Crockwell, the Somerset goalkeeper, denied striker Clay Darrell the opening goal of the game when he made a good reflex save at the near post after run into the right side of the box opened the Somerset defence.

It was a promising start for the home team, who were forced to replace veteran striker Lashun Dill right on half-time because of an injury.

After the goal, Somerset enjoyed a good period as Nacori Smith’s shot was turned away for a corner by goalkeeper Freddie Hall. However, St George’s came closest to finding an equaliser in the 68th minute when, from a Jahron Dickinson corner on the left, Darrell’s header smashed against the crossbar with Crockwell beaten.

In scorching hot conditions that necessitated water breaks midway through each half, both teams searched for that early goal. St George’s had the best chance in the eighteenth minute when a quick break, started by David Signor’s pass out of midfield, created an opening for Darrell, who got through on the right side before his shot was tipped over the bar.

Somerset went closest in the first half just past the half-hour mark when Hall was blown down for a handball outside the box. From the free kick by Jaden Ratteray-Smith, the veteran goalkeeper made amends with a diving save at the far post.

Late in the game, St George’s made a double substitution — but too late to make an impact — as Tyrone Burgess and Oronde Bascome came on for defender Jordan Darrell and midfielder Alleyne Francis with three minutes remaining.

Somerset held on for three more points while St George’s are still looking for their first goal after two 1-0 losses.

St George’s had three players booked, Darrell, Philip Anderson and unused substitute Macai Simmons, who received a card for dissent moments after the goal was scored.

Jeze Butterfield was the lone booking for Somerset, late in the first half.

SCORERS

Somerset Trojans: Turner 56

TEAMS

St George’s Colts (4-4-2): F Hall — G Wade, D Signor, P Anderson, J Darrell (sub: T Burgess, 87min) — E Signor, D Signor, A Francis (sub: O Bascome, 87), J Dickinson — C Darrell, L Dill (sub: C Burns, 45). Substitutes not used: J Brangman, W Broadley, M Simmons. Booked: Darrell, Simmons, Anderson.

Somerset Trojans (4-4-2): D Crockwell — M Joell (sub: K Robinson, 71), M Turner, T Ming, M Henschke — C Durham (sub: Jaz Ratteray-Smith, 58), N Smith, Jaden Ratteray-Smith, J Butterfield, J Bean (sub: T Tyrrell, 58), L Burgess. Substitutes not used: A Albouy-Lovell, S Tatem, R Seaman, H Butterfield. Booked: J Butterfield.

Referee: D Jackson.