Just one week after suffering an embarrassing 7-0 FA Cup first round loss against Boulevard, Somerset Eagles were mauled by a make-shift PHC Zebras side in this Friendship Trophy clash at Southampton Oval.

Unlike the Boulevard game when they had no hope of winning, Eagles this time around got more satisfaction from this performance because they remained competitive until the last ten minutes when the Zebras added to two further goals to their 2-1 lead at the time.

Dawud Tucker gave the Zebras a 1-0 lead at the half while second-half goals came from Kevin Lambe and substitutes Raynel Lightbourne and Duval Wilson.

Rodre (Pipe) Wilson got the lone goal for the Eagles.

With six players unavailable because of national squad duty and a club decision to use as many back-up players at the expense of other regulars, one wondered how the Zebras would cope with a team fortunate to have the bulk of their Premier Division players.

The first half was closely contested with the Zebras taking a one goal lead at the interval on a goal by striker Tucker after being supplied by a defence-splitting ball by Omar Shakir with the game 38 minutes old.

But Eagles have themselves to blame for trailing by the break because they had more than their share of scoring chances.

After the Zebras? forward David Hunt watched in agony as goalkeeper Ian Raynor dived to punch his shot around the post after 20 minutes, Eagles came into the game with momentum but striker Lamaul Crofton and midfielder Aldolphus Lambert placed shots from 17 yards wide of the post.

Hunt drilled another shot off the chest of Raynor after 31 minutes as the Zebras showed some signs of dominance but Eagles refused to yield with Tyrone Smith and Lambert placing further shots from just inside the penalty box just wide of the post.

After falling behind to Tucker?s goal, Eagles pressed hard for the equaliser and caused some anxiety for the Zebras two minutes before the half when Sean Simmons? wicked free kick from 20 yards sailed just over the bar.

While play was anything but enterprising it was, nevertheless, competitive with attacks and counter moves but most of these ended with stray passing outside of the penalty box.

Zebras? goalkeeper Raymon Glasford showed great agility when he denied Crofton by tipping the Eagles? striker over for a corner after 52 minutes, but eight minutes later Zebras stunned their opponents when Lambe netted on a breakaway.

Glasford then brilliantly tipped a back-headed pass by a defender over for a corner, but Eagles eventually reduced the lead to 2-1 when Wilson scoring during an Eagles? raid down the left flank.

The odds however were to weigh heavily against Eagles after 77 minutes when right full-back Marcel Dill got a second booking and was red carded.

After 88 minutes Lightbourne got a gift when he hit a grounder that astonishingly got through goalkeeper Raynor?s legs and salt was added to Eagles? wounds right on the stroke of relegation time when Duval Wilson got the fourth for Zebras.: R.Glasford; J.Sealy, A.Furbert, D.Outerbridge, J.Mallory; O.Shakir, D.Darrell, M.Williams (D.Wilson, 60 min); K.Lambe, D.Tucker (K.Mills, 55 min), D.Hunt (R.Lightbourne, 83 min). Subs not used: E.Hunt, Q.Hunt. I.Raynor; D.Pickney (M.Butterfield, 19 min), S.Simmons, E.Greenwood, M.Dill; N.Woods, A.Lambert, T.Smith; D.Dowling, L.Crofton, R.Wilson. Subs not used: C.Simmons, L.Landy. D.Tucker, O.Shakir, D.Hunt (Zebras); I.Raynor, R.Wilson (Eagles).: M.Dill (Eagles). Kevin Lambe and Alale Furbert (Zebras); Sean Simmons (Eagles).: Anthony Mouchette.