The smallest player on the field came up big for Dandy Town -- against his former team.

Reggie Tucker scored the game's only goal in the 34th minute to give Town a much-needed -- and much-deserved -- victory at St. John's Field yesterday.

Neither the game nor the goal were a work of art but the way things have gone this season, both player and team will take it.

The win was only Town's second in five league outings and, temporarily at least, moved them into a fifth-place tie with Hotels, who play Devonshire Cougars tonight. Town were also coming off a 2-1 loss to Vasco on Thursday night in the Martonmere Cup.

For Tucker, who has battled through an injury-plagued season, the goal was also gratifying.

The hard-working Town star was in the right place at the right time when Dean Bailey's cross from the left deflected off a defender, collecting the ball in the 12-yard box and blasting a shot into the middle of the net.

Tucker was playing only his fourth match of the season due to a hip flexor.

But injuries have been part of Town's woes all season. Typically, Neil Paynter only recently returned to the line-up yesterday but he was forced out early in the second half with a twisted left ankle.

The good news for Town was that the injury brought Paul Cann off the bench and the former US professional did some creative running on the right side to help Town completely take over the game in the final 30 minutes.

In fact, it was a quiet game all-around for Trojans. Unable to consistently get the ball to the dangerous strike force of Lamaul Crofton, Marco Butterfield and Michael Brangman, they were left mostly with long-distance shots on 'keeper Antoine Lightbourne. Three of these -- from Anthony Burchall, Butterfield and Sean Simmons -- however were crackers and barely missed the mark.

Somerset 'keeper Winslow Williams wasn't exactly overworked either. Sloppy passing and erratic shooting broke up most Town rushes but Williams did come up with the save of the game -- from Webster Mills -- with 20 minutes left to keep his team in it.

Town's Carlos Smith also had a sure goal taken away in the 20th minute, not by Williams but by full back Rudolph Butterfield, stationed on the goal-line.

Dandy Town: A.Lightbourne, N.Paynter (P.Cann, 57 mins.), D.Outerbridge, D.Bailey, J.Marshall, C.Wilkinson, D.Boyles, S.Tuzo, C.Smith, D.Simons, R.Tucker.

Somerset: W.Williams, A.Burchall (K.Simmons, 65 mins.), D.Woolridge, S.Simmons, R.Butterfield, S.Riley, D.Rahman (K.Roberts, 55 mins.), A.Rahman, M.Butterfield, M.Brangman (E.James, 74 mins), L.Crofton.

Men of the match: Town -- Reggie Tucker; Trojans -- Lamaul Crofton.

Referee: Lyndon Raynor.