Sunday served to convince them that they no longer need feel inferior to any team in the First Division.

For, coupled with their win over then joint leaders Devonshire Colts two months ago, the east-enders have an accomplishment no other team in the First Division can boast -- beating the top two teams in the First Division.

The east-enders produced possibly the biggest surprise of the season on Sunday when they sent Somerset crashing to a 4-2 loss at Wellington Oval, ending a nine-game unbeaten league and cup run stretching back to mid-November.

The victory was the talk of the Olde Town yesterday and the confidence level of the St. George's players will be on a new level this week as they prepare for a second straight meeting with the Trojans First Division leaders this Sunday at Wellington Oval in the FA Cup.

"It does a lot for our morale,'' said coach Greg Foggo yesterday. "We needed a victory over somebody like that to rebuild team morale.

"I've been telling the players that they are as good as any team in the First Division but that they've got to believe in themselves. It wasn't like we won because they played bad but because we outplayed them.'' St. George's were hurt by the deduction of the points from their abandoned match with Hamilton Parish (though they are appealing that ruling). They got a Christmas boost with the return from school of Clay Smith, who stunned the Trojans with a splendid hat-trick on Sunday.

And while most of the college players -- including Somerset's Kenny Thompson -- will be returning to their schools in the next few days, Smith has taken a break from college and will be home until the rest of the school year and will lead the team's relegation fight. "We took Clay from up front and gave him a free role, coming from deeper in midfield,'' the coach explained.

The result was one of the best performances by the team in Foggo's three seasons as coach. Now they need to perform more consistently if they are to make a strong bid to avoid a quick return to the Second Division.

"My target for the first half was eight or nine points and we should have had six with the Hamilton Parish match, which would have left us with two less than we wanted,'' Foggo stated.

"All I'm saying is if the team can consistently play as we did on Sunday then we should have no problem staying up.'' St. George's will put their relegation struggle aside for a week when they take on the Trojans at home again.

One thing is certain, the Trojans will be showing a lot more respect for their opponents than they did last weekend.

"We really went out there and were a bit too relaxed and complacent...thinking it would be a pushover,'' admitted captain Brian Simons.

Simons knows about how St. George's often lift their game for matches against the Trojans. The last time they were in the First Division -- 1986-87 -- under coach Randy Horton, they came from 2-0 down at half-time at Somerset to beat the Trojans 4-2 in extra time on their way to the Friendship Trophy final.

"Looking at next week we know that we have to pull things back together and pick it up again,'' said Simons.

"We're still on top of the tables and playing good soccer right now. We realise that they'll probably come right at us and we'll have to hold our own and get over. It shouldn't be a problem though.'' After a gruelling Dudley Eve Trophy run, Somerset coach Larry Hunt rested Jerry Webb and Dwight Basden for the St. George's. However, the same defence that let in one goal in four Dudley Eve Trophy games conceded four goals in a game for the first time this season.

"I thought Hunt felt that certain guys needed a little rest and we do have guys on the bench who can do the job just as well...it just didn't work, that's all,'' conceded Simons.

"Every time we play St. George's it's been a battle.'' GREG FOGGO -- `We needed a victory over somebody like (Somerset) to rebuild team morale.'