Rodney Bascome's magnificent 25-yard strike in the last minute settled this see-saw thriller at Somerset Cricket Club in which the lead changed hands four times.

After twice giving up the lead in the first half, league champions Somerset went behind for the first time with a half-hour left but recovered to score twice in the last 18 minutes to secure victory.

PHC had seemed in no immediate danger when Bascome, who moments earlier had been booked for dissent, picked up the ball out on the left, with a melee of players between him and the goal.

But he saw a gap and unleashed a fierce left-foot drive that beat the outstretched hand of diving goalkeeper Ty Williams and soared into the top right corner of the net.

In was a memorable end to a pulsating match.

Somerset, whose early league form has been sluggish, made a dream start, taking the lead in the seventh minute when Bascome scored from two yards following a move started by Billy Kirkpatrick.

The Trojans almost increased their lead following a sweet move on the left involving Kirkpatrick, Reggie Tucker and Anthony Burchall, but Burchall's first-time shot went inches wide from 20 yards.

Three goals in the last 12 minutes of the first half set the match alive. In the 33rd minute, PHC equalised against the run of play when Sammy Swan connected with a cross from the right and hit a low, firm shot into the left corner of the net.

But Somerset struck back within three minutes when Lamaul Crofton scored at the second attempt after his first shot was parried by Williams.

PHC came storming back, however, and Sheridan Ming had a tremendous, long drive saved by Antoine Swan.

Seconds later, Dave Wolffe equalised when he cracked home a volley from the edge of the 18-yard box just two minutes from half-time. But the Trojans almost snatched back the lead immediately when Bascome came agonisingly close to scoring his second, hitting the bar twice within the space of seconds.

PHC began to take control in the second half and it was no surprise when the ever dangerous Sammy Swan put them ahead in the 59th minute.

Kevin Dill made the goal by splitting the Somerset defence with a superb long pass, which Swan controlled, despite heavy pressure from a defender and goalkeeper Antoine Swan, and fired home from 17 yards.

The Zebras nearly increased their lead eight minutes later when Wolffe connected with a corner and headed just wide and, moments later, put another header inches over the crossbar.

But Somerset showed they too could come from behind and they equlaised in the 72nd minute when Dwight Basden hooked the ball into the bottom left corner of the net following a goalmouth scramble.

It set up Bascome for his story-book finish to a glorious game.

Somerset: A.Swan; J.Smith (K.Tucker, 62 mins), P.Place, T.Dickenson (D.Basden, 23 mins), F.Smith; A.Burchall, A.Rahman, R.Tucker; B.Kirkpatrick, R.Bascome, L.Crofton.

PHC: T.Williams; B.Bean, M.Dill, M.Gilbert (R.Lightbourne, 77 mins), N.Simons; O.Steede, K.Dill, T.Russell (A.Stovell, 55 mins); D.Wolffe, S.Swan, S.Ming.

Referee: Frank Drayton.

Men of the match: Rodney Bascome (Somerset); Sammy Swan (PHC).