Battling Somerset snatched a last-gasp goal to topple Hotels and throw down the gauntlet to future challengers.

They now top the league after nearest rivals Devonshire Colts drew with Hamilton Parish yesterday.

The Trojans showed their true fighting qualities on Saturday night to bounce back from an early goal by Vincent Chaves.

But they left their enthusiastic fans waiting until just four minutes from time to do so.

And it was a defender, Larry Simmons, who performed the heroics, rifling home from around 10 yards.

His goal completed a second-half revival started in splendid fashion by Paul Place in the 56th minute.

He connected with a cross from Kelly Simmons, to head the ball powerfully past Hotels' goalkeeper Randy Darrell.

It was a quality strike, which put paid to the notion that this could be Hotels' night.

The away team, beset by off-the-field problems with the controversial departure of senior coach Clevie Wade, had come out of their starting blocks full of vigour.

With Eugene Simmons assuming the role of midfield general, spraying the ball around effectively, Hotels found plenty of movement.

Helped by a gusting wind in the first 45 minutes, the forwards had several goal-scoring chances, occasionally beating the offside trap that the Trojans used to the full.

It was, however, Somerset who sniffed blood first, when Kelly Simmons struck the post in the fourth minute.

He had the goal at his mercy from around six yards out, and seemed sure to score.

Chaves' 10-yard strike in the 19th minute stopped the Trojans in their tracks, and appeared to unnerve them.

Coach Larry Hunt admitted he had some harsh words with his troops at the interval, and it seemed to do the trick.

With the wind in their favour, they made penetrating runs into their opponents' half.

Jerry Webb, in particular, looked continually menacing as he showed off his skills down the left flank.

The rewards soon followed with the two goals, and the Trojans should have added to their tally when substitute Kwame Tucker hit the post in the dying minutes.

Somerset: W.Williams, B.Simons, L.Simmons, P.Place, T.Dickinson, S.Morrissey, R.Tucker, C.Simmons (K.Tucker, 79 mins), J.Webb, W.Kirkpatrick, D.Basden.

Hotels: R.Darrell, D.McGowan, D.Bell (C.Robinson, 52 mins), P.Smith (C.Anderson, 73 mins), D.Scott, E.Simmons, C.Sabir, M.Piper, V.Chaves, C.Bell, R.Hill.

Referee: Cal Simons.

Men of the match: Jerry Webb (Somerset); Eugene Simmons (Hotels).