Somerset Trojans 1, PHC 2

Goals from Raynel Lightbourne and Dennis Russell kept PHC's title challenge on course against a battling Somerset Trojans on Saturday night.

Gangly striker Lightbourne opened the scoring as early as the second minute, firing home past keeper Timmy Figuerido who had smartly denied Russell's point-blank header from a corner.

But relegation-threatened Trojans were showing plenty of appetite for the battle and levelled on 11 minutes through Adrian Burrows who took advantage of some uncharacteristic hesitant defending by PHC.

Inexplicably, a Trojans long ball was allowed to bounce in the box as PHC's defence got themselves into a muddle enabling Burrows to steam in and head past keeper Jason Smith.

The second-half saw Stephen Mendez sting Smith's palms with a venomous strike from distance, while Cecoy Robinson dragged an angled shot wide from inside the box.

But on 76 minutes PHC regained the lead when target man Russell finished off Lightbourne's squared pass from close range. The league leaders should have killed off the game when Keston Lewis was clean through on goal but ridiculously chose to pass to Robinson who was in an off-side position.

Trojans nearly made Zebras pay for the wastefulness with Jelani Scott and Adophus Lambert both going close.

Despite their defeat Trojans coach Dennis Brown said he was encouraged by his beleaguered team's battling display.

"We were blazing on all cylinders and I thought maybe PHC may have underestimated us a little," he said.

"I thought we were a little unfortunate not to take something from the game but we had a few chances late on and didn't take them. Hopefully this performance is a sign of things to come for the remainder of the season."

Somerset Trojans: T.Figuerido, C.Robinson, S.Riley, J.Tucker, M.Butterfield, J.Butterfield (D.Benjamin 83), M.Thomas (D.Stovell 60), S.Mendez, A.Burrows (R.Bascome 75), J.Scott, A.Lambert

PHC: J.Smith, J.Almedia, O.Shakir, K.Richards, M.Waldron, B.Bean, C.Furbert, K.Lewis, D.Russell, C.Robinson (K. Lambe) R.lightbourne (J.Sealey 85)

Referee: L.Wilson

Man of the Match: R. Lightbourne