Against a team that had not won in the Daihatsu Second Division since the opening day of the season, Somerset Trojans were expected to pad their goal difference at Wellington Oval yesterday.

Instead the pre-season promotion favourites came down to earth as Hamilton Parish sent the Trojans crashing to their second defeat of the season.

The sending off of veteran forward Everett Wellman in the second half proved costly for the Trojans as Parish regained their two-goal lead in the closing minutes.

Wellman was involved in an off-the-ball incident with Leroy Robinson right in front of linesman Lawrence DeShields. The flag went up to alert referee Alan Pearmain and as he was running over to the linesman for consultation, Wellman caught Robinson with a series of punches.

The red card was shown to Wellman, but Robinson was not content with that and at the final whistle he raced over towards the Somerset bench in search of Wellman before being restrained.

With the match close, tempers flared and the scuffle between Robinson and Wellman threatened to escalate before order was quickly restored.

It was the third such incident involving Somerset this season and the second in successive matches following the melee in last weekend's game against Somerset Eagles.

Ernest Lathan scored twice for Parish in the first half, the first coming in the second minute and the second in the 21st before Duane DeRosa pulled one back for Somerset from the penalty spot in the 76th.

But Somerset's hopes of a share of the points were dashed when substitute Larry Allen raced down the right flank and scored from an acute angle after the Somerset defence had been stretched.

Hotels 3 Wolves 1 Hotels moved five points clear at the top of the Second Division following this decisive win over Wolves at St. John's Field.

Leading 1-0 at half-time, Hotels doubled their advantage early in the second half, only to have Wolves reduce the deficit as Dion Wainwright converted a penalty.

But the two goal margin was quickly restored and that's how it ended.

Dennis Robinson, Chris Sabir and Diallo Sharrieff each scored once for the victors, who now have 19 points from seven matches to head second placed Somerset.

Somerset Eagles 0 Paget 1 No longer are they the whipping boys of the Second Division. Paget are for real! That was the message sent yesterday by the Ord Road club to those who would take them for granted.

Announcing the fact was a 1-0 triumph over previously once beaten Somerset Eagles and at White Hill field to boot.

Former Eagles player Terrence Christopher sealed victory for the visitors with a late second half tally that gave Paget their third win in seven matches.