Lowly Devonshire Colts got an early Christmas present yesterday when they powered their way to this emphatic victory over the Trojans at Somerset CC on the strength of three second half goals by Vic Ball, substitute Jermel Belboda and hard-working Mark Ray.

The solid performance gave Colts their first victory of the season and while they still remain in ninth place, the triumph has to be a boost for coach Vic Ball and his troops for the start of the 1996 campaign.

For the host team it was a humiliating loss and coach Josef Gooden will have to pray that Santa Claus can deliver him a solution for many of his problems -- and they appear to be chronic with many senior regulars missing from their ranks in this outing.

Forced to field a reshuffled team the Trojans suffered more misery after 56 minutes when centre-back Dwayne Deroza was sent off for fouling Quincy Aberdeen and the handicap enabled Colts, who already held a slight edge, to take the initiative and break the deadlock.

The Trojans' best chance came after 10 minutes when forward Jermain Burrows' blast from close in was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Randy Darrell after a defensive error led to the opening.

Aberdeen and Ball fired shots over from 16 yards for Colts during counter attacks, but Colts' biggest miss came after 26 minutes when skipper Shannon Burgess put a shot wide from an angle just eight yards out on the left.

Darrell tipped over a free kick from Rudolph Butterfield after 66 minutes to deny the Trojans from taking the lead during a rare raid. But Colts were not to be outdone.

Five minutes later Ray sent his skipper Burgess down the right flank and the centre-back, who often joined his attack in raids when the Trojans were reduced to 10 men, sent an accurate cross for Ball to head the opening goal from close range.

Somerset's young troops became unsettled and with Ray spearheading most of the raids the Colts moved forward with regularity.

The second goal came after 84 minutes when Belboda ripped a shot in from an angle close in on the left. And, after substitute Kenneth Dill missed a sitter, Ray was in position to get a goal he deserved from close range two minutes from time.

The young Trojans got a high rating for effort, but the result clearly showed that it takes more than fight and determination to win in this division.

Somerset Trojans: A.Hendrickson; R.Butterfield, D.Deroza, T.Dickinson (D.Basden, 26 min), E.Dean; D.Woolridge, A.Rahman, R.Scott; J.Burrows, L.Crofton, K.Simmons.

Dev.Colts: R.Darrell; K.Burchall, M.Hollis, S.Burgess, J.Jones; J.Samuels, M.Ray, V.Ball (S.Waldron, 77 min); A.Aberdeen (J.Belboda, 69 min), S.Phillips (K.Dill, 73 min), D.Ming.

Men of the match: Andrew Rahman (Trojans); Mark Ray (Colts) Referee: Stuart Crockwell