A dramatic late penalty shattered Somerset Trojans' dreams of winning the Dudley Eve Trophy two years on the trot.

The champions' hopes were dashed when they shared the spoils in a battling draw with Devonshire Colts in Coca-Cola First Division action yesterday.

It meant Colts joined Boulevard, North Village, and Dandy Town in the crowd-pulling Christmas and New Year tournament.

But until seven minutes from time Trojans -- needing a two-goal victory -- had a chance of qualifying.

It was then that Colts' striker Ellington Weldon was brought down from behind in the box.

The villain was Trojans right-back Paul Place, who had earlier raised his side's hopes with a superbly taken 15-yard strike.

Referee Frank Drayton had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Weldon took a short run, and coolly slotted the ball low and hard into the left-hand corner of the net.

Trojans goalie Antoine Swan dived the right way, but the ball whistled past him.

The goal cancelled out the one scored by Place two minutes into the second half.

And it had the Colts bench sighing with relief at the water-logged Frog Lane field.

For Trojans, spurred on by Place's beautifully-struck goal, had taken the game to their opponents in the latter stages of the match.

The away team -- already beaten by Colts in the Martonmere Cup -- needed to win by a two-goal margin.

Anything less spelled automatic qualification for Colts.

For those hoping for a mouth-watering Sunday exhibition of skill yesterday's tussle was a disappointment.

The weather saw to that. Not only was it blustery, but the pitch was greasy.

Scattered rain showers throughout added to the skidpan conditions.

In a first half plagued by fouls neither side seriously troubled their opponents' 'keepers.

Colts' frontmen Quincey Aberdeen, Weldon, and Jermel Belboda made plenty of attractive inroads into Trojans territory.

But they lacked the decisive punch to make their soccer artistry pay.

In the 16th minute, Somerset's 'keeper Swan was nearly embarrassed when he spent too long clearing a back-pass.

Weldon, spying an opportunity, blocked the attempted clearance, sending the ball spinning into the air.

Fortunately, Colts' defence rallied to sweep the ball away before Weldon could capitalise.

In the dying stages of the first half, Trojans were reduced to 10 men when Larry Simmons briefly limped off the field.

The second half began with drama when Place fired the ball high into the right-hand corner of the net following a corner.

Antoine Lightbourne was left hopelessly out of position after only managing to palm the ball into Place's path.

Colts shortly afterwards brought on Harrison Trott to increase their firepower.

The home team's efforts were helped by the sterling work of Jahmal Samuels who had a splendid afternoon.

He managed to blunt the impact of Trojans dangerman Rodney Bascome, who was eventually substituted.

In the 77th minute, Colts' Dennis Williams blasted the ball towards the goal from 20 yards.

It dipped over the bar, however.

After Weldon had levelled matters, Colts' fans were convinced their team had clinched victory in the dying seconds.

Mark Ray, who was constantly in the thick of play, appeared to have rolled the ball over the line after a goalmouth scramble.

But the linesman was unconvinced and Drayton allowed play to continue.

Ray was later honest enough to admit the ball had not crossed the line.

Colts' coach Lorenzo Symonds afterwards was full of praise for Trojans.

"They played very hard, and were competitive,'' he said.

Symonds said he was relieved Colts had withstood the pressure without five of their regular players.

And he added the weather had not helped.

"It was wet and windy and it made football difficult. We tried to keep the ball on the ground.'' Devonshire Colts: A.Lightbourne, D.Williams, D.Wright, J.Samuels, V.Ball, G.Burt, K.Smith (H.Trott, 63 mins), M.Ray, J.Belboda, E.Weldon, Q.Aberdeen (A.Zuill, 79 mins).

Somerset: A.Swan, P.Place, T.Dickenson, L.Simmons, A.Rahman, R.Simmons, S.Arorash (K.Tucker, 79 mins), A.Burchall, R.Tucker, R.Bascome (R.Scott, 71 mins), L.Crofton.

Referee: Frank Drayton.

Men of the match: Jahmal Samuels (Devonshire Colts); Anthony Burchall (Somerset).