Somerset Trojans 1

Devonshire Cougars 2

Two early goals from striker Heys Wolfe within the span of three minutes proved sufficient for visiting Devonshire Cougars to take maximum points in this Premier Division game at Somerset yesterday.

But Trojans coach Mark Trott had to be upset with his team's failure to come away with at least a share of the points as he watched in astonishment and then anger as inept finishing let down the home team on several occasions.

One such chance came just three minutes from time when substitute Dwight Basden managed to get to a cross from hard-working striker Marvin Belboda but from just a few yards out sent a feeble shot wide of the post.

The defeat will have been hard to swallow for Trojan fans whose team were in second place and seriously challenging for top spot and the right to take on the visiting Jamaicans over the Christmas holiday.

Cougars, entering the day in third place, moved up to second - even on points with first-placed Devonshire Colts but two goals short of qualifying to meet the tourists.

Despite the win, Cougars had their problems at the back and always looked as though they might concede the equaliser in the second half when Somerset gained an edge and pinned down the visitors for long spells.

It was Wolfe who struck first after 14 minutes, gaining possession deep in the Trojans half after a lapse in defence.

The nimble forward coolly dribbled past two defenders before firing home an angled shot from 14 yards on the right.

Three minutes later he was on target again, this time finding himself free on the left side of the box from where he latched onto a cross and again blasted his shot past the diving Timmy Figureido in the Trojans goal.

Somerset slowly came into the game with Belboda - who proved a menace to the Cougars defence all day - and Karl Roberts sending shots at goalkeeper Ricardo Brangman and over the goal.

But the side's problems in front of goal were well demonstrated after 29 minutes when Curtis Grant slipped through the middle after centre-back Wendell Swan had fallen, but with only goalkeeper Brangman to beat and plenty of time to spare he hurried his shot wide from close range.

A minute later, however, Somerset got back into the game when Belboda was rewarded for his fine work, scoring from a cross from the right.

Midfielder Toriano Davis fired a hard shot at Brangman eight minutes later as the home team stepped up the pace in search of an equaliser, but it was Cougars who finished the half on top.

After 42 minutes Ray Beach fired a volley over from 12 yards after receiving a cross from Kori Goddard and Figureido twice denied Cougars within two minutes by failing to collect a fiercely hit ball from Mark Smith and then slapping away a wicked 16-yarder from Beach.

Somerset came out fighting after the break but their bench were soon holding heads in dismay as Karl Roberts blew another easy chance for the west enders.

The big midfielder was just a few feet from the goal-line when he was unable to control a cross from the right and then miskicked when scoring looked far simpler.

The blunder, however, didn't deter Trojans who were allowed to take control of play for long spells, but time and again good approach work ended with the forwards missing opportunities.

Cougars defenders made many clearances in desperation and scrambled away balls which seemed destined for the back of the net.

When Basden blew his golden chance at the end, Somerset had to accept that this just wasn't going to be their day.

Somerset: T.Figureido; J.Martin, R.Scott, D.Francis, A.Rahman; T.Davis, K.Roberts (S.Ming, 74 mins), D.Stovell, D.Ming (R.Simons, 65 mins); M.Belboda, C.Grant. Subs not used: D.Rahman, S.Ludgate.

Booked - K.Roberts, D.Stovell, R.Simons.

Dev. Cougars: R.Brangman; D.Brangman, W.Swan, O.Butterfield, J.DeShields; K.Steede, M.Smith, K.Goddard, D.Eve (K.Williams, 86 mins); R.Beach, H.Wolfe. Subs not used: L.Tota, M.Steede, V.Martin.

Booked - M.Smith.

Referee: Richard Knight

Men of the match Heys Wolfe (Cougars); Marvin Belboda (Trojans).