Don't count Cougars for dead yet...but they may find it difficult to avoid falling into serious relegation trouble in the New Year if their attack continues to malfunction as it did in this Premier Division clash at Devonshire Rec. yesterday.

The defeat saw the Devonshire club slip from seventh to eighth with the Trojans moving above them.

Cougars matched the visitors for much of the contest but saw good approach work time and again break down outside the penalty box by misdirected passes.

And the West Enders, though unable to dominate for any significant period also through a lack of finishing ability, took advantage of their limited scoring opportunities to snatch victory.

On both occasions it was diminutive midfielder Jermaine Dill who stroked home the goals, netting after just 90 seconds and 52 minutes with Sharritt Hewey getting the single goal for Cougars after 55 minutes.

Dill stung Cougars with his early goal, slamming a loose ball home after Andrew Rahman's cross from a free kick was smartly headed down by striker Dwight Basden.

However, the Trojans were unable to take complete command and struggled to gain any real initiative for the rest of the half.

After a long, uneventful period, Cougars finally found their touch and got their first shot on goal when skipper Sean Smith headed a Heys Wolfe corner just wide of the post.

Cougars gained a slight edge for the remainder of the half but Wiliam Pitt's inability to get shots off when in position just inside the box left them trailing as the half ended.

The trend continued in the second half with both attacks looking lifeless as play entered the penalty box.

Somerset took a 2-0 lead after 52 minutes when forward Rodney Basden masterfully dribbled by three defenders and saw his angled shot slapped away by goalkeeper Ricardo Brangman. However, it fell directly to the eager Dill who gleefully whipped the ball home from 15 yards.

But like the fighters they are, Cougars hit right back with Pitt and Wolfe combining for Hewey to slip through the middle of a dazed defence to score from close range.

Cougars then pinned Trojans in their own half as they pressed hard for an equaliser with Kwame Steede putting an 18-yard shot wide of the post and Wolfe firing his effort wide.

But it wasn't to be for Cougars who forced six corners within a span of 20 minutes.

Right at the end Wolfe watched in agony as his fiercely struck 22-yarder was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Timmy Figureido who dived full length to his right to finally put an end to the Cougars charge.

Devonshire Cougars: R.Brangman; S.Coddington, P.Clarke, S.Smith, J.DeShields; W.Salaam, K.Steede (Jer.Smith, 60 mins), K.Goddard; H.Wolfe, S.Hewey (Jah.Smith, 63 mins), W.Pitt (P.Mallory, 63 mins) Somerset: T.Figureido; G.Butterfield, A.Rahman, H.Hunt, Du.Basden; D.Rahman, J.Dill, J.Scottt; D.Lambert, R.Bascome (P.Jones, 84 mins), Dw.Basden (M.Harris, 84 mins) Referee: George O'Brien Men of the match: Kwame Steede (Cougars); Jermaine Dill (Trojans).