Striker Sammy Swan converted a penalty six minutes from the end to enable host PHC to earn a vital point in this First Division clash of former superpowers at PHC Stadium yesterday.

The point taken by the west enders was just as important since they were as anxious to improve on their mediocre sixth-place spot going into the game. PHC were desperate to do something about their lowly seventh-place position.

With both teams so far this season still performing far below the standard expected of them, play was anything but stimulating and any real excitement was left until the second half when all of the goals were scored.

Swan's equaliser came when Meshack Wade was apparently pushed by Trojans' skipper Trevour Dickinson as the PHC substitute raced through the defence for a through ball by Ottis Steede.

While the good spot kick brought relief and great satisfaction to the fans of the home team, the Trojans had every right to hold their heads low in disgust at the end because they looked capable of taking both points until that penalty decision.

The Trojans had showed courage -- if not always technique and skill -- when they fought back to take a 2-1 lead after 69 minutes on goals by Reggie Tucker and Rodney Bascome.

In fact the visitors had the better of the exchanges during an often dull first half with their best scoring opportunity coming after 27 minutes when a blast by Tucker from 18 yards was brilliantly stopped by goal-keeper Denian Tucker diving to his left. The rebound fell right to Bascome whose shot was amazingly scrambled away for a corner by a defender.

For the rest of the half the Trojans dominated play, forcing seven corners but the PHC defence refused to yield.

PHC, who achieved very little going forward in the opening half, played with more urgency and technique when the second half got underway and they took a 1-0 lead through young McLean Smith after 62 minutes.

Smith, playing on the right wing, chased after a long ball by Steede deep into the Trojans' half and the eager forward raced behind the defence to drill the ball home from close range.

The goal gave the Trojans the jolt coach Larry Hunt was looking for. Within four minutes right-back Andrew Rahman crossed from 20 yards out to enable Tucker to slip home the equaliser from close range.

The go-ahead goal followed and it was indeed a beautiful bit of work by Bascome.

PHC: D.Tucker; N.Simons, B.Simons, M.Dill, B.Bean; S.Ming, A.Stovell (M.Wade, 73 min), O.Steede; M.Smith, S.Swan, K.Mills.

Somerset: A.Swan; A.Rahman, P.Place, T.Dickinson, G.Cann (A.Burchall, 82 min); S.Arorash, R.Simmons, C.Anderson; R.Tucker, R.Scott, R.Bascome.

Referee: Rex Osborne Men of the match McLean Smith (PHC); Rodney Bascome (Trojans).