This was one trophy the Trojans never came close to winning at Dandy Town's expense as the defending champions held onto the Friendship Trophy last night at the National Stadium with a most emphatic victory.

The Trojans have had the better of the exchanges between the two teams this season, including dethroning them as Dudley Eve champions and also recently shattering their hopes of defending their league crown. But finally the score was settled as Town completed a deserved second straight Friendship Trophy triumph.

"This was the last hurrah, everybody's going to remember the last game,'' said a delighted Town coach Devarr Boyles afterwards.

"We wanted to end the season on a positive note. I think it was a fair result, the chances fell our way and we capitalised. But all credit to Somerset, they made the match entertaining.'' Actually it was Town who dictated the pace of the game, applying the early pressure with some quick breaks by their front men Carlos Smith, Darron Simons and Ascento Russell, with Troy Lewis adding to Somerset problems with some goods runs down the right flank.

Town took a deserved lead in the 20th minute when Simons was sent racing through the middle by a perfect pass from Don Lewis. Rather than try beating keeper Andre Hendrickson with a quick shot, Simons elected to try to run the ball past him as the crowd held its breath.

Hendrickson was forced into bringing him down and after Roddy Burchall pointed to the spot Wayne Campbell strode up to confidently blast the ball past Hendrickson.

Under relentless pressure the Somerset defence was in disarray but Town failed to extend their lead.

Against the run of play Somerset struck back to equalise with just three minutes left in the half. Anthony Burchall flighted in a freekick from the left and when Cymande Davis failed to collect the cross, Jermaine Burrows scored from close range.

Determined not to let Somerset back in the game like they did in the Dudley Eve final on New Year's Day, Town went back in front five minutes into the second half and this time there was no way back for the west enders. This time Campbell supplied the cross to the far post where Carlos Smith drove the ball crisply and precisely into the bottom left-hand corner.

It was Town who struck again in the 58th minute when another quick break saw Lewis drive the ball low and hard past Hendrickson. The goal turned out to be the clincher and it made amends for Lewis' own goal in last April's FA Cup final against Vasco.

Even though he went off with a foot injury 13 minutes from the end, Lewis was more than happy with his contribution to Town's win.

"Any time we're going that way (towards the southern goal) I think I can score,'' joked Lewis.

"But that's behind me, I don't dwell on the past. The last time I was here I scored in my own net so I had to score tonight.'' Lewis' goal wasn't the end of the scoring for Town, for after stubborn Somerset pulled another goal back in the 64th minute through a Lamaul Crofton header from a Jerry Webb cross to make it 3-2, Town put the icing on the cake with a smartly taken second goal from Carlos Smith in the 87th.

Smith ran through the Trojans defence and from an angle confidently slid the ball around Hendrickson to make sure Town finished up with something. They were even able to give Berkeley student Wolde Place a `show' for the final two minutes of this gripping contest.

Town: C.Davis; W.Rudo, D.Lewis, W.Campbell, D.Sharrieff, Ku.Martin, P.Douglas, A.Russell (Wolde Place 88min), C.Smith, D.Simons, T.Lewis (L.Furbert 77min).

Somerset: A.Hendrickson; A.Rahman, J.Burrows, D.DeRoza, A.Burchall, N.Woods, R.Tucker, J.Webb, S.Arorash (A.Bailey 64min), R.Bascome, L.Crofton.

Referee: Roddy Burchall Men of match: Troy Lewis (Dandy Town), Reggie Tucker (Somerset).