Somerset Trojans 1

Flanagan’s Onions 0

Somerset Trojans remained on course for a second Dudley Eve Trophy title in three years after Alton Trott’s early goal at Goose Gosling Field last night earned them another final appearance.

Trojans, who beat North Village 2-1 after extra time in the 2012-13 final, had to hold their nerve in a physical semi-final that sometimes threatened to boil over as Flanagan’s Onions battled to reach the final in their first season in the competition.

Onions had a slow start and could have been trailing 2-0 after the opening minutes, with Somerset twice penetrating their defence.

They nearly took the lead after just seven minutes when defender Dane Benjamin’s pass opened up the Onions defence for Adolphus Lambert to get in a one-on-one situation with goalkeeper Stephen Gould, who was off his line. Fortunately for Gould, Lambert’s first-time sidefoot lob over the keeper was too strong and ended up over the bar.

Trojans were soon threatening again and this time midfielder Trott scored a smart goal to break the deadlock, finding the back of the net with a well-controlled, left-footed shot after Onions failed to properly clear a corner.

After Onions hit the upright from a goalmouth scramble, both teams were forced to make substitutions in the 34th minute when Trott and Gavin Thomason both went down with suspected hamstring injuries. Trott was replaced by Makai Joell and Thomason with Keston Lewis, who brought more thrust to the Onions attack as the challenges started to fly in as half-time approached, with Nathan Peskett, the tough-tackling Onions midfielder, booked for a reckless foul on striker Leo Burgess on the edge of the box.

Somerset continued to do most of the pressing early in the second half without finding a second goal to seal the tie as Onions began to threaten more. Trojans held firm, though, to book their final spot.

“We know every time we play Flanagan’s it’s going to be a tough game and we have to match up accordingly,” said Trevin Ming, the Trojans captain, who was pleased with his team’s response after losing to Hamilton Parish on Saturday night. We tried to stay in there for the whole 90 minutes and the final is the main prize, but we still have another step to go. Hopefully we can get a positive result.”

“We were in a little slump in the last two games, so hopefully this will raise our spirits. And this was a clean sheet which is always a plus.”