Somerset exposed Hotels as an aging bunch past their prime with a crushing 3-0 victory at Southampton Oval yesterday, which enabled them to gain sole possession of first place.

Rodney Bascome, after failing to find the back of the net in five matches dating back to last season, broke out of his scoring slump with two well-taken efforts and striking partner Jerry (Chocolate) Webb likewise added his first tally of the 1992-93 campaign.

But they were only part of a Somerset machine that clicked on all cylinders, totally dominating every facet of the game.

With the aforementioned duo wreaking havoc up front and Reggie Tucker, Kelly Simmons and brother Randy in firm control of the midfield, and the back four unyielding, Hotels were constantly up against it.

Nevertheless, the home side did give Somerset an early scare seconds after the kick-off when Ricky Hill rose above the defence and headed the ball to Coolridge Bell who nudged it goalward only to have Somerset goalkeeper Winslow Williams palm the ball away at the last possible moment.

Five minutes later it was Bell again getting in the thick of things, supplying a cross from the right that Eugene (Hammer) Simmons planted in the roof of the goal, but referee Peter Sousa ruled him offside.

This appeared to wake up the Trojans as they responded by immediately marching down the other end and taking the lead.

Webb went on one of his patented runs down the left side, snaking his way into the penalty area and squaring ball to Bascome situated six yards in front of goal, and he gave Gladwin Edness no chance with his first-time shot off the inside of his right foot.

An avalanche of pressure ensued and it seemed only a matter of time before the visitors would increase their lead.

That moment came in the 24th minute as Randy Simmons made a long throw from the right side, deep in the Hotels half, which was headed on by Webb to Brian Simons lurking at the far post. Simons initially miskicked the ball but did well to retrieve and send it back in to Webb for him to head in off the left upright, just out of the reach of a scrambling Edness.

Somerset continued to pick up steam towards the end of the half. Edness was called on to make crucial saves off the feet of Webb, who gave right-back Franklyn Greaves nightmares all day, and it was only his alertness between the `sticks' that prevented a bigger scoreline.

The second half followed a similar script with Somerset never allowing their opponents any leeway.

Tucker and Kelly Simmons, continued to perform impeccably, winning balls in midfield and spraying to their front-runners as attacks continued in waves.

Edness was kept busy, first clutching a firm header from Richard Scott in the 51st minute and then smothering another hard drive from Webb.

A long solo run by Bascome up the middle three minutes later made for the final score as he outstripped two defenders and slotted under the advancing 'keeper into the back of the net.

Such was the one-sidedness of the match that Hotels never had a single shot on goal during the second half, their best scoring chance snuffed out by Williams, as he snatched the ball off the feet of Hill on the rare occasion that he broke free of the defence.

Hotels: G.Edness; D.Scott, D.Bell, P.Smith, F.Greaves (F.Carrera, 54 mins); M.Piper (T.Bassett, 82 mins), E.Simmons, C.Sabir; C.Bell, R.Hill, V.Chaves.

Somerset: W.Williams; B.Simons, L.Simmons, P.Place, S.Morrisey (D.Robinson, 79 mins); K.Simmons, R.Simmons, R.Tucker; R.Scott (B.Kirkpatrick 66, mins), R.Bascome, J.Webb.

Men of the match: Chris Sabir (Hotels), Reggie Tucker (Somerset).

Referee: Peter Sousa.

RODNEY BASCOME -- Two goals.