With both teams having qualified for the Martonmere Cup semi-finals before kick-off this was a game that didn?t matter ? and for 79 minutes, that?s just what it looked like.

But the fans in a sparse crowd, who had braved Tropical Storm Philippe?s wind and heavy showers, got their reward in a dramatic final 11 minutes at BAA Field last night.

It was Trojans who came away with the deserved triumph that left them as Group B winners, although Lamar Crofton?s 86th-minute winner had a touch of good fortune about it.

There seemed no danger as Town goalkeeper Antoine Lightbourne prepared to gather a through ball in routine fashion. But the ball slipped from his grasp and Crofton was on hand to tap the ball into the empty net.

The first half had been scrappy, with the teams cancelling each other out and defences well on top.

Somerset?s Stephen Astwood, pictured, came the closest to a goal when his 25-yard strike deflected off a defender and fizzed inches wide of the post with Lightbourne wrong-footed.

Lightbourne had also been called into action to tip over Jelani Butterfield?s header and Rohaan Simons actually found the net in the 34th minute, only for the Somerset celebrations to be cut short by the raised flag of the referee?s assistant.

This game had looked destined to be a goalless affair, but the introduction of Trojans substitute Adolphus Lambert in the 74th minute changed all that.

Just five minutes after he came on, Lambert broke the deadlock by finishing off a sweeping Somerset move.

It started with a Town corner that was half-cleared. Joel Duffy ? a strong midfield influence for Trojans throughout ? won a vital tackle and the ball was pushed forward to the influential Astwood.

The breakaway moved into top gear as Astwood found Crofton, who turned and played a well-weighted pass into the path of the rampaging Lambert.

The substitute raced into the Town penalty area and struck a fine, left-footed shot that found the net via the hand of Lightbourne and the left upright.

Town almost equalised seconds later when Michael Parsons hit a fierce, dipping drive that cleared the crossbar by inches, but five minutes from the end the Hornets got their equaliser.

Jared Peniston, a threat all night for Town for his pace and trickery, charged down the left flank, reached the by-line and pulled the ball back into the path of substitute Wolde Place.

Place was so poorly marked that he had time to mis-control it before he shot on the turn into the bottom corner of the net.

The Hornets fans were still ringing their bells in celebration when Crofton?s instant riposte ruined their night and left Trojans to savour a confidence-boosting victory.: A.Lightbourne, S.Darrell, E.Signor, M.Lowe, D.Zuill, O.Steede, M.Parsons, G.Adams (W.Place, 59 mins), L.Simmons, J.Peniston, C.Anderson (K.Butterfield, 88 mins).: T.Figureido, S.Riley, J.Tucker, S.Simmons, M.Butterfield, J.Scott (F.Simmons, 44 mins), R.Simons (A.Lambert, 74 mins), J.Duffy, S.Astwood, L.Crofton, J.Butterfield.: J.Peniston (Town), S.Astwood (Trojans). Richard Knight