St. George's 0 Somerset 2

St. George's will be five points adrift at the bottom of the Premier Division standings over Christmas after crashing to their fourth home loss at Wellington Oval yesterday.

Already looking certainties for relegation, the last-placed team badly needed a first home win of the season to keep their survival hopes alive.

An own goal by player-coach Neil Paynter 15 minutes into the match dealt them a harsh blow and a second goal early in the second half by Tokia Russell sent them crashing to their sixth loss in seven matches.

The win was only the second of the season for the Trojans but the eight points they have means they are still within reach of North Village and Dandy Town just above them.

The opening for Somerset's goal came when left back David Signor's pass across his own defence did not find a team-mate as Russell picked up possession on the Trojans left flank. A pass into the St. George's box looked to have been covered by goalkeeper Troy Hall but Paynter in front of him tried to head the ball clear. It went in the direction of the near post and despite the diving Hall getting a touch to the ball it went in off the base of the woodwork.

The goal was a cruel blow to the home team while Somerset, going through a bad period themselves which saw them crash to First Division neighbours Somerset Eagles in the FA Cup last weekend, grew in confidence..

Mackie Crane missed the best chance for St. George's in the 25th minute when he hit a weak shot wide of the far post after the advancing Timmy Figureido in the Somerset goal missed the ball in his attempt to clear.

It was end to end action as William Pitt shot just over the bar for St. George's and then Hall parried a shot from Sheridan Ming.

Hall pulled off another good save just a minute into the second half to deny David Lawler. The east enders were still fuming after a challenge from Figureido on Pitt seconds earlier went against them in the form of a foul for Somerset when the visitors doubled their lead in the 58th minute through a well-placed strike by Russell from the left side of the box.

Not having scored twice against Premier Division opponents this season, it was clearly going to be a tall order for St. George's to snatch a point, though they did take up the challenge by applying much of the pressure in the last 20 minutes as Somerset were content to defend their lead. Crane shot inches over the top after good work by Kyle Williams on the left side penetrated the Somerset defence in the 85th minute. The Trojans were reduced to 10 men three minutes from the final whistle when substitute Stovell was sent off by Orel Swan for using foul language.

St.George's: T.Hall; D.Signor, U.Fox, N.Paynter, R.Steede (W.Henry 64 mins), H.Bascome, K.Williams, E.Signor, M.Crane, W.Pitt (K.Butterfield 78 mins), S.Gibbons. Subs not used: H.Mathie, D.Robinson, D.Wright.

Booked: D.Signor, E.Signor.

Somerset: T.Figureido; K.Roberts, R.Simmons, K.Simons, A.Rahman, O.Shakir, S.Ming, T.Russell, K.Tucker (D.Stovell 45 mins), D.Lawler (M.Brangman 72 mins), D.Basden. Subs not used: R.Brangman, T.Smith, D.Rahman.

Booked: O.Shakir.

Men of the match: Kyle Williams (St. George's); Tokia Russell (Somerset)