Somerset Trojans showed the character that has been lacking in recent seasons to emerge with a well-earned point against Devonshire Colts in Saturday's Premier Division nightcap at Somerset Cricket Club.

Down two goals after only 15 minutes and their team looking a right shambles, the home fans would have been justified in heading out early to beat the eastbound traffic from the Jazz Festival.

To gain at least a point, they had to create precedent (by scoring twice) and against a defence that had already posted two shut-outs in the league.

But this they did with aplomb, and Somerset might have finished with as many as five had Colts sweeper Shannon Burgess not been on top of his game.

Still, there was the start -- and this is something Gary Mallory's coaching staff must address if there is to be any silver in Silver City.

Colts forced a corner in the second minute which Ricky Saltus curled in directly from the right. Goalkeeper Leslie Trew was nowhere to be seen, centre-half Richard Scott making first contact with a header into the roof of the net which only confirmed the ball had already crossed the line.

Unsettled in defence and flat-footed in midfield, the Trojans went two down in the 15th minute due to a simple piece of skill from Aljame Zuill.

The winger beat Andrew Rahman to a ball high on the right, cut in and ran 25 yards before hammering a drive past Trew's right hand.

Somerset didn't get their first sniff until the 22nd minute when Karl Roberts, who looked woefully out of place at sweeper, fired high and wide from an inviting position.

Colts had their first let-off a few minutes later when 'keeper Troy Hall missed a cross, leaving young Nasir Wade with a golden opportunity to get the Trojans back into the game. But skipper Burgess was on the spot to clear off the line.

The forward combination of Wade, Rodney Bascome and Michael Brangman were now a force to contend with although Steval Mendes was their only real midfield presence.

Burgess thwarted Wade just before the half, reacting first to a dangerous Bascome cross with Hall exposed.

Both clubs made a change at the interval, Trojans replacing the ineffective Shawn Riley with Nadir Wade and Colts bringing on Jerry Laws for the injured Saltus.

Two minutes in, Somerset won a direct free kick just outside the left side of area and Rahman scored with a deft chip over the wall that gave Hall no chance.

Zuill might have given Colts breathing room before Somerset equalised as he twice broke through down the middle. He grabbed at the first shot from distance, but on the second occasion the lanky forward's failure to force a save out of Trew would prove fateful. Soon after, referee Stuart Crockwell stunned the crowd when he awarded a penalty in the 52nd minute as Roberts attempted to control a deep throw with Samuels draped all over him.

Brangman made good on the kick, struck hard and low to Hall's right, and surging Somerset could sense victory.

But they were set back on their heels again when Laws scored with a lovely, opportunistic strike in the 65th minute.

With his back to goal 20 yards out, the forward turned and fired to the only opening he saw and Colts were celebrating again.

Somerset countered with Brangman forcing a good save from an advancing Hall but they would not be denied on 77 minutes when Wade blasted home after the defence failed to negotiate Rahman's deep free kick from the right.

It was just reward for the Trojans who had now shown more drive with Mendes' tireless endeavour in the middle and Wade's turn of pace up front, which is sure to cause many a headache this season.

Somerset: L.Trew; A.Tucker, K.Roberts, R.Scott, A.Rahman; S.Riley (Nad.Wade, 45 mins), S.Mendes, J.Dill (F.Simmons, 82 mins); Nas.Wade, R.Bascome (L.Weeks, 61 mins), M.Brangman.

Devonshire Colts: T.Hall; C.Durham, S.Burgess, J.Samuels, J.Simmons; T.Smith, N.Samuels (A.Todd, 85 mins), W.Henry; J.Aberdeen, A.Zuill, R.Saltus (J.Laws, 45 mins).

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.

Men of the match: Steval Mendes (Somerset Trojans); Shannon Burgess (Devonshire Colts).

Yellow cards: Steval Mendes (Somerset), Ricky Saltus (Devonshire Colts), Gary Mallory (Somerset, coach), Michael Brangman (Somerset), Jemel Simmons (Devonshire Colts), Nathan Samuels (Devonshire Colts).

Red cards: None.