Somerset Eagles 4 Dandy Town 2

Eagles' diehard fans had plenty to cheer about yesterday as their team stepped up in the second half to score a surprise two-goal victory over heavy favourites Dandy Town in this Premier Division clash at White Hill Field.

After an fairly uneventful goalless first half that saw Gregg Foggo and Waldo Place twice come close for Town and Rodre Wilson and Lamaul Crofton doing likewise for the home side, the game suddenly came to life after the break with a flurry of six goals.

The teams were deadlocked 2-2 after 77 minutes but Eagles exploded during the final 10 minutes when their forwards besieged the penalty area to come away with two late strikes, Rodre Wilson steering them ahead after 80 minutes and substitute Marcel Dill putting the result out of reach with the fourth right on the stroke of full-time.

Town, however, didn't deserve to lose by two goals, luck going against them after just 12 minutes when Place `scored' but was ruled offside.

After the interval it was Eagles who got the opener, left full-back Aldolphus Lambert starting a move deep in his half that eventually saw Wilson and Crofton combine before striker Darren Dowling finished from close range.

But the lead was short-lived as Town equalised after 57 minutes on a solo effort by Carlos Smith who raced down the right flank, shrugged off challenges by three defenders before masterfully chipping home from 20 yards.

Then a blunder by Eagles' centre-back Desmond Burgess saw Smith score from the penalty spot, Burgess having fouled Town skipper Lionel Furbert.

However, even with a 2-1 lead Town had trouble taking the initiative, their best chance coming when substitute Kevin Hurdle placed a shot wide of the post from 16 yards.

Quick counter attacks saw Crofton of Eagles and Smith of Town place shots wide from just inside the box.

Eagles then drew level after 77 minutes, midfielder Sean Simmons astonishingly firing his free kick through a wall of defenders from just outside the box after he had been fouled by substitute Randy Swan.

One feared an uneventful period for the rest of the game and an inevitable draw but Eagles would have none of that.

Instead of playing it safe and settling for a share of the points, they pushed powerfully forward and with sheer determination were rewarded with dividends with Wilson and Dill taking advantage of sloppiness in the Town defence to lead the home side to their first victory of the young season.

Eagles: A.Burrows; M.Hunt, D.Burgess, D.Woolridge, A.Lambert; M.Butterfield (M.Dill, 62 mins), S.Simmons, K.Simmons (J.Butterfield, 66 mins); L.Crofton, D.Dowling (S.Burrows, 58 mins), R.Wilson.

Dandy Town: A.Lightbourne; J.Robinson, S.Smith (R.Swan, 62 mins), C.Azar, L.Furbert; K.Martin (P.Douglas, 50 mins), B.O'Riordon, S.Wilson (K.Hurdle, 50 mins); C.Smith, W.Place, G.Foggo. Subs not used: D.Hill, C.Blakendal. Booking - R.Swan (Town).

Referee: Lyndon Raynor.

Men of the match: Desmond Burgess (Eagles); Carlos Smith (Town).