Somerset and PHC set the stage for a winner-take-all second leg of the Dudley Eve Trophy final on New Year's Day at St. David's (2.30) after this thrilling contest finished all even at Somerset.

Now the Trojans will have to sweat it out for a further 90 minutes, at least, to see if they will land the trophy for the first time.

Both they and PHC produced a performance worthy of a final and the benefactor was the large crowd who got more than their money's worth.

The match was only three minutes old when the deadlock was broken with Somerset's first real chance, as a pass from PHC captain Derrick (Nails) Douglas across his defence went astray and Somerset picked up possession. And when the PHC defence failed to clear, a pass back into the box found Rodney Bascome and he kept his composure to beat 'keeper Ty Williams from close range for his ninth goal of the season.

PHC responded with Frank Ming puttng a header just wide of the far post in the 12th minute.

A minute later PHC were forced into their first substitution when Winston Trott, Jr. limped off with a leg injury to be replaced by Mark Smith, nephew of Sammy Swan.

Douglas nearly made amends for his third-minute error when he sprang the offside trap after pushing forward and then laid on a perfect pass for Ottis Steede in the area but the youngster put his effort wide.

PHC came close to getting the equaliser in the 20th minute when a ball through the Somerset defence for Swan saw the striker turn and shoot wide with his left foot.

The five-time champions did not have to wait much longer for the tying goal -- and what a cracker it was.

It came in the 27th minute after Frank Ming's shot at the far post was blocked and the ball eventually was only cleared to Kenny Mills 30 yards from goal.

His first-time scorcher took a slight deflection off Paul Place before screaming past Winslow Williams and into the back of the net.

The game hung delicately in the balance after that as both teams played hard, aggressive soccer with Mills going off for treatment late in the first half before returning in injury time.

After the restart both 'keepers were outstanding as they kept the game tied up with some important saves.

Ty Williams cleared a dangerous raid from Reggie Tucker before, at the other end, Dano Outerbridge put a header straight at Winslow Williams from a Swan corner on the left.

The PHC 'keeper made the best save of the night just moments after going down with an injury in the 59th minute when he leapt spectacularly to keep a right-foot shot from Jerry Webb from finding the far top corner.

Chances continued to come fast and furious in a frenzy of action as Tucker's shot was blocked by the legs of Williams with Kenny Thompson's rebound being deflected for a corner.

Then, Outerbridge was robbed by Bascome who laid on a good chance for Webb in the 71st minute, which he put wide. At the other end Steede scooped a shot from 10 yards over the bar before Swan forced an important save from Williams at the far post following a cross from the right.

Thompson was the only player to go into book in the 88th minute for kicking the ball away after being blown down for offside.

Somerset: W.Williams; B.Simons, A.Burchall, P.Place, T.Dickinson; R.Simmons, R.Tucker, S.Morrissey (D.Basden, 60 mins); J.Webb (B.Kirkpatrick, 72 mins), R.Bascome, K.Thompson.

PHC: T.Williams; N.Hayward, R.Lewis, D.Douglas, D.Outerbridge; O.Steede, F.Ming, K.Mills; W.Trott (M.Smith, 13 mins), S.Swan, C.Burgess (M.Trott, 62 mins).

Referee: Roddy Burchall.

Men of the match: Winslow Williams (Somerset); Ty Williams (PHC).

CLOSE CALL -- Jerry Webb, left, in action against Roderick Lewis on Boxing day, brought the night's best save from Ty Williams after the score was 1-1.