Dandy Town 3

Somerset Trojans 0

Dandy Town Hornets outclassed and outfought Somerset Trojans to storm to a 3-0 victory and clinch fourth spot in the Premier Division last night.

A goal just before half-time by Lashun Dill and strikes after the break from Heys Wolfe and substitute Nakai Wells were more than enough for Hornets to leapfrog the visitors in a tight table.

Trojans can count themselves lucky to have escaped a heavier defeat as the dominant Hornets cut through gaping holes in the visitors’ back line time and again.

Dandy Town were the brighter side from the off, with Jared Peniston and Carlos Smith both testing Trojans ‘keeper Adrian Burrows with pot shots in the opening few minutes.

After half an hour, Hornets striker Antwan Russell capitalised on sloppy defending to race through and find himself with just Burrows to beat. However, instead of shooting he opted to square the ball for veteran forward Smith, who was in an offside position. Smith tapped the ball home, but the goal was ruled out. Smith was proving a constant menace down the Trojans left, cutting inside in the 36th minute to roll the ball invitingly for Russell, who could only balloon his effort skywards.

The goal Hornets had been threatening finally came from forward Dill in the 43rd minute. Trojans were once again torn apart down their left, with Dill weaving past a number of challenges to find room to slot the ball coolly past Burrows.

The second half saw more of the same from Dandy Town, with midfielder Peniston looking increasingly dangerous. He fed Smith with an excellent through ball after 50 minutes, only to see the forward hammer his shot too close to the ‘keeper.

The midfielder then twisted and turned past two defenders down the left, before hitting a disappointingly tame effort into the side netting.

Trojans began to throw more men forward, but they were given little time on the ball by the harrying home side and seemed unable to string two passes together.

After 70 minutes, the game as a contest was as good as over when forward Wolfe placed a left-footed shot past Burrows to make it 2-0.

With three minutes left, a fluid move involving three Hornets men left Wells with the chance to get in on the act. The substitute fired his shot straight at Burrows, but he was on hand himself to knock home the rebound.

Seconds later, the Trojans defence inexplicably failed to close down Wells as he picked the ball up in the danger area and strolled forward to crash a cracking shot against the crossbar.

There was still time for Hornets substitute Lloyd Holder to blaze wide from a good position as a rout beckoned. The final whistle could not come quickly enough for Trojans.

Dandy Town:<$> C.Davis, S.Smith, K.Simmons, T.Russell (M.Smith, 73 mins), M.Parson, S.Darrell, L.Dill (N. Wells, 73 mins), J.Peniston, H.Wolfe, C.Smith, A.Russell (L.Holder, 73 mins).

Somerset Trojans: A.Burrows, M.Butterfield, M.Dill (R.Simons, 53 mins), D.Burgess, D.Minors, J.Tucker (D.Seymour, 76 mins), M.Thomas (C.Hederios, 59 mins), M.Wade, D.Swan, C.Robinson, A.Lamber

Men of the match: J.Peniston (Town), A.Burrows (Trojans).

Yellow ds<$>: L.Dill (Dandy Town)

Reee:<$> Leroy Wilson