Dandy Town 0

Somerset Eagles 3

Though Eagles put three goals past Town it was their goalkeeper and central defender and not their strikeforce who were the heroes of the day.

Adrian Burrows and Musceo Hunt put in stellar performances to deny the Hornets in the Martonmere Cup at BAA Field yesterday afternoon, Hunt also starring at the other end with two successful penalty conversions.

Burrows can also claim an assist in the build-up to the second goal, his long punt forward causing Town defender Ty-Ron Douglas to handball in the box. Ruffins Hill sealed the victory with a late third.

Burrows' busy afternoon began in the ninth minute when he saved a Kelvon Butterfield shot with his feet.

Moments later he enjoyed the first of two pieces of good fortune when Khano Smith hit the inside of the post, the latter watching in disbelief as the ball bounced to safety.

Sean Simmons was then taken to hospital after falling heavily on his right arm and an already stretched Eagles side, personnel-wise, was forced into a change, Rodre Wilson coming on as a replacement.

With 19 minutes gone it was Hunt's turn to make his presence felt, the player executing a clinical tackle to prevent Lashon Dill going through on goal.

Within seconds he made another important interception, though it also owed a great deal to Smith's poor finishing. After going round the ‘keeper the big striker prodded the ball towards the empty net but it lacked the necessary pace and Hunt, rushing in, was able to clear it off the line.

Eagles made the breakthrough in the 32nd minute as Jabrel Tucker was adjudged to have been tripped just inside the area. Hunt made no mistake with the spot kick, putting it low into the right-hand corner.

With ten minutes of the second-half gone Burrows was somewhat fortunate not to be penalised when he came careering off his line to challenge for a high ball with Smith, the former collecting the latter with both requiring treatment.

Seven minutes later Smith was foiled once more by Burrows who turned a shot from a tight angle around the post for a corner.

Midway through the half he made perhaps his best save, a point-blank block of Smith's goalbound shot from six yards.

Then spotting his striker Lamaul Crofton prowling in the final third Burrows launched a long ball upfield. It bounced over the onrushing ‘keeper, Jason Smith, and with Crofton unable to bring it under control bounced once more and struck the luckless Douglas high on his arm. Referee Gregory Simons had no hesitation in awarding the penalty and Hunt made no mistake sticking it in exactly the same spot as the first.

With victory already assured and 90 minutes on the clock Hill struck a shot from the edge of the area which appeared to go through Jason Smith's arms and in off the underside of the bar.

“I came out there to have a good game, give it my all and have fun,” said an understated Burrows afterwards, admitting that he lucked out with Smith's miss early on. “I took a deep breath on that one.”

“This is just a good stepping stone and we will look to go forward from here,” Burrows added.

Dandy Town: J.Smith, T.Douglas, R.Swan, D.Lawler, M.Lowe, J.Simons (D,Hill, 46), Kelvon Butterfield (Kion Butterfield, 86) J.Peniston, S.Wilson, L.Dill (S.Darrell, 66), K.Smith.

Somerset Eagles: A.Burrows, A.Lambert, D.Burgess, M.Hunt, S.Worrell, M.Butterfield, S.Simons (R.Wilson, 13 (S.Dread, 83)), J.Butterfield, J.Tucker (R.Hill, 76), L.Crofton, D.Dowling.

Booked: T.Douglas (Town).

Men of the match: K.Smith (Town), A.Burrows (Eagles).

Referee: G.Simons