Two goals from Jonathan Bean and Justin Corday helped relegation-threatened Somerset Trojans to safety at Somerset Cricket Club yesterday.

Trojans entered the match with their Premier Division status under threat in a relegation battle with Devonshire Colts and Southampton Rangers.

The home side only needed a point to retain their top-flight status but managed to take all three thanks to some timely strikes from Bean and Corday and saves by Shaquille Bean, the Trojans goalkeeper.

Although few and far apart, Hood had their chances and looked to have done enough to grab a share of the spoils after winger Ereico Outerbridge cancelled out Bean’s 53rd-minute strike that had put Trojans in front.

However, Trojans piled on the pressure and eventually regained the lead for good when Corday buried the winner two minutes from the end of regulation time from close range.

Trojans dominated the opening period and should have opened their account by the interval.

A long ball played over the top of the defence left Bean all alone with Jason Simmons, the Hood goalkeeper, but the striker’s tame effort was easily saved.

Leo Burgess, the Trojans winger, also squandered a golden opportunity when he blasted over from ten yards after the Hood defence was again left exposed by a long ball over the top.

At this stage a Trojans goal seemed imminent but they were nearly caught out on the counterattack.

Aaron Nelson, the Hood midfielder, forced a fine diving save by Bean with a shot from distance and moments later the goalkeeper rushed off his line to beat Lejuan Simmons, the Hood, winger, in a race to a through ball. Darius Cox, the Hood defender, also had a blistering 30-yard effort rise inches over the bar with Bean well-beaten.

Trojans finished the half on the front foot with Simmons punching Burgess’s fierce drive clear and then being spared his blushes after Alton Trott, the Somerset midfielder, hurried an effort over an open net.

Hood started the brighter of the two sides in the second half and came to within inches of taking the lead when Nathan Peskett, the striker, lobbed just wide after a long ball caught the Trojans defence flat-footed.

Trojans eventually took control and the lead in the 53rd minute when Bean buried a low drive at the near post during a goalmouth scramble.

Despite falling in arrears, Hood refused to roll over and play dead and nearly equalised when Bean was called upon to make another fine save at his near post to thwart Simmons.

Hood eventually drew level against the run of play when Outerbridge capitalised on poor defending to rifle Antwan Russell’s free kick into the roof of the net in the 70th minute.

By now the game seemed destined to fizzle out into a tame draw.

However, Corday had other thoughts, keeping his cool when it mattered most to lash home a pass from substitute Ayshaun Smith, who drew the defence towards him like a magnet to free up his team-mate in the middle.

Somerset Trojans 2

Bean, 53

Corday, 88

Robin Hood 1

Outerbridge, 70

TEAMS

Somerset (4-3-3): S Bean — A Lambert, T Ming, J Gooden, D Benjamin (sub: F Crockwell, 66min) — A Trott, J Corday (sub: Jadan Ratteray-Smith, 90), T Wade — Jaz Ratteray-Smith, L Burgess, J Bean (sub: A Smith, 65). Booked: Lambert. Substitutes not used: V Blanchette, M Donawa, A Seaman, D Wade.

Robin Hood (4-3-3): J Simmons — P Froncioni, J Bather, D Cox, J Pereira — A Nelson, A Russell, M Thomas (sub: S Burchall, 72min) — L Simmons, E Outerbridge (sub: T Dill, 72), N Peskett (sub: L Simons, 86). Substitutes not used: J Titterton, C Boyce, C Fosker, A Ivo.

Referee: L Raynor.