Ellington Weldon scored on his debut late in the second half at Devonshire Rec. as Wolves marked their return to the top flight after an eight year absence with victory over the Trojans.

However, anybody leaving the game midway through the first half would have been surprised to hear that Somerset finished on the losing end, having dominated for much of the first 45 minutes while Wolves took time to find their feet.

In the end, though, last season's Second Division champions were deserving of the victory as Somerset faded in the second half. While his players were keeping their head, Wolves coach Dennis Brown was losing his, and got sent off in the 69th minute for using abusive language towards a linesman. It wasn't the sort of return he expected against his former team.

Relegated to the Second Division last season but earning a reprieve after the withdrawal of Hotels, the Trojans looked determined not to suffer that same fate as they put Wolves to the test with some fluent football.

Probably their best chance of the match came as early as the ninth minute when Roger Brangman flighted in a cross from the right. The ball dropped perfectly for the unmarked Terrance Christopher eight yards from goal but his volley whistled inches over the bar.

Christopher linked up with another returning Trojans player, Rodney Bascome, and with Rodre Wilson supplying the work down the left flank, the Wolves youngsters were given a taste of what to expect in the First Division.

Hewvonnie Brown blocked an effort from Wilson in the 11th minute before Andrew Rahman created an opening down the right flank to earn a corner from which Brangman's shot was tipped over the bar.

The following corner from the other side by Shannon Morrissey almost produced the opening goal but the ball came back off the far post during a goalmouth scramble.

Christoper was then kept out by Brown after meeting Wilson's cross with a header which was tipped over the bar.

The game changed after that chance, which turned out to be Somerset's last for a while as Wolves came more into contention in the final 15 minutes of the half. Three quick chances were put over the top as Somerset's defence began to look ragged.

Winslow Williams, suddenly finding himself with lots to do in the Somerset goal, made an important point blank save to deny Weldon in the penalty area early in the second half.

Wolves, missing six players from last year's team, including college students John Barry Nusum, Joey Rego and Khari Sharrieff, scored what turned out to be the winner in the 74th minute after substitute Nirobi Smith was fouled by Somerset's sub, Eugene Dean, on the right corner of the box.

Nakia Smith, one of five new signings in the Wolves team, put a weak free kick into the Trojans wall and after Nathan Webb failed to flick the ball on, the 29-year-old former Devonshire Colts player Weldon pounced to drive in a low shot that deflected off Roger Brangman before beating Williams in the bottom corner.

Weldon almost added a second goal two minutes later but this time the near post denied him as Williams injured his hand when he collided with the post in attempting the save. The game was held up for several minutes while he received treatment, with Wolves trainer Alvin Lee also lending assistance in a sporting gesture.

Wolves: H.Brown; T.Trott, L.Simmons, L.Hypolite, T.Davis, P.Sampson (N.Smith 56 mins), N.Smith, M.Dill, K.Smith (S.Berkeley 81 mins), N.Webb, E.Weldon.

Somerset: W.Williams; C.Grant (E.Dean 67 mins), K.Roberts, D.Woolridge, R.Scott, R.Brangman, S.Morrissey (L.Crofton 49 mins), T.Christopher, R.Bascome, R.Wilson (F.Simmons 63 mins).

Men of the match: Ellington Weldon (Wolves), Winslow Williams (Somerset).

Southampton Rangers 2 Dev. Cougars 1 Rangers hit back after two mediocre showings in the Martonmere Cup to beat Devonshire Cougars in their First Division opener at Southampton Oval.

With Ryan Belboda holding the defence closely together with some solid play, they got two goals in the last 13 minutes from substitutes Dawud Tucker and Travis Wilkinson to come from behind. Tucker struck after 77 minutes and Wilkinson after 80.

Cougars, for whom Wali Salaam performed solidly in midfield, had taken the lead four minutes after the break through striker Phillip Clarke.

Boulevard 0 Devonshire Colts 1 Devonshire Colts picked up their first win of the season yesterday at St.

David's when Aljame Zuill celebrated his return to the club by scoring the clincher.

Zuill, back after a season with Devonshire Cougars, went close in the first half with a header that went just over the bar from six yards. He made up for that miss midway through the second half when Tito Smith's shot came off goalkeeper Andre Hendrickson's shoulder and Zuill jumped above the 'keeper to head home before Hendrickson could recover.

Hendrickson kept Boulevard in the game late in the first half when he dived to his right to save Shannon Burgess' penalty.