Somerset Trojans 3 Devonshire Colts 1

The final Premier Division relegation spot is still up for grabs going into the last weekend of the season after Somerset Trojans came out deserved winners against fellow strugglers Devonshire Colts 3-1 at Police Field yesterday.

With Ireland Rangers amost certain to be playing First Division football next season, Trojans knew that anything other than three points from this game would seal their fate.

Somerset, who were four points behind Colts heading into the encounter, got out of the blocks with all cylinders blazing as they set about clawing their way closer to the Devonshire side in the standings.

It took Somerset all of seven minutes to go ahead thanks to a defensive mix-up which enabled Adrian Burrows to put his header past goalkeeper Sean Perinchief.

From a ball that was swung into the penalty area, none of the Colts defenders picked up the onrushing Burrows and he made no mistake from point blank range to beat Perinchief.

And adding to Colts' horrendous home form as of late, they found themselves down 2-0 after a deflection led to Trojans' goal second in the 15th minute.

Dion Stovell, back from his injury, fired from 25 yards out only to have a defender block the path to goal. But this was a blessing in disguise as the deflected shot fell into the path of midfielder Jelani Butterfield who planted his effort low past a scrambling Perinchief.

Conditions were not suitable for long ball play in this match and both sides attempted the pass-and-move tactic, which succeeded at times.

This seemed to work to Colts' advantage as they won a free kick going into the cross wind and Ryan Purnell lofted a curling shot into the breeze that Somerset keeper Timmy Figuerido misjudged.

Figuerido, who had little to do up to this point, thought the ball was going high and wide but realised it was heading into his net and could do nothing about it.

But the match was then settled in the 83rd minute, again by a goalkeeping error.

Perinchief's miskick landed at the feet of Stovell who only had one defender to beat. He gracefully skipped around the last man and slid his shot underneath the onrushing keeper to make it 3-1.

It was just what Trojans needed to ease their relegation fears, a happy Jelani Scott said.

"We knew what we had to do today, and we did the job", said the Trojans skipper. "It's a relief to win, and we can look forward to next week as it is not over just yet.

"We play Dandy Town next week and a letdown there will send us down."

The next round of the league see will Colts, who are now one point ahead of Somerset, facing Boulevard, while Trojans square off against Dandy Town.

Somerset: T.Figueriedo, M.Butterfield, S.Riley, J.Tucker, J.Scott, J.Butterfield, M.Thomas, D.Swan, A.Burrows, D.Stovell, R.Bascome (D.Basden, 63rd minute).

Devonshire Colts: S.Perinchief, S.Burgess, N.Bascome (S.Dietz, 59th), J.Butterfield, J.Williams, C.Hill, D.Williams, R.Purnell, T.Foote, E.Wilkins (M.Pace 82nd), Q.Aberdeen

Referee: L.Raynor

Man of the match: Adrian Burrows (Somerset).