Somerset moved a step closer towards retaining their Premier Division status with a 2-1 first-leg play-off triumph over a gallant, but ultimately inferior Ireland Rangers outfit at Somerset Cricket Club last night.

However, the victory did not come without more than a few scares, as Rangers took the match to the Trojans from the outset, going so far as to take the initial lead, before the home side stormed back.

Entering as if engrossed in a cup final upon which their very lives depended, Rangers, accompanied by a small legion of dedicated and vociferous fans, looked to spring the ultimate surprise ... and it very nearly came off.

Buoyed by an early adrenalin rush, the Dockyard crew stormed the gate, forcing Somerset on the defensive as they mounted attack after attack.

Clifton Anderson brought the crowd to its feet in the ninth minute, slipping behind the defence to get on the end of a through-ball from Regino Gomes, only to fire wide with goalkeeper Timmy Figureido to beat.

Amends were made two minutes later, as slack defending resulted in Somerset falling behind.

A left-wing corner by Raymond Knight somehow found Jonathan Bean unmarked in the six-yard box, and he was able to loop a header past the flailing limbs of Figureido, sending the club's supporters into a cheering frenzy.

Stung by this initial jab, Somerset attempted to counterpunch, striker Rodney Bascome forcing Ricardo Tucker into a spectacular full-length save from a goalbound header after 20 minutes.

Tucker was less than spectacular in the 23rd minute, failing to collect a harmless, floating free-kick from Dwayne Basden.

His indecision allowed Bascome the chance to control and turn, before firing home a right-foot volley from the penalty spot.

From there it was one-way traffic as Somerset exerted their superior skill and pace on their neighbours, mounting wave after wave of attacks and creating a busy man out of Tucker in the process.

The half closed with Bascome rifling a shot off the near post after turning two defenders on the right flank.

The second-half saw more of the same, although Rangers remained a threat whenever in attack, with Bean the danger man.

It was left to striker David Burchall to settle matters in the 75th minute, the veteran frontman being given much too much time at the top of the area to swivel and fire home into the bottom right hand corner past a despairing Tucker.

Somerset now enter tomorrow's second-leg match holding a goal edge and again playing at home.

Rangers coach Michael Corday is not a fan of the new play-off ruling, believing the two-legged affair favours the Premier Division side.

He believed that even if his side had been able to hold, or even beat, the Trojans in the first game, they would have it all to do in the second.

If that is the case, with the Trojans temporarily at least having the upper hand, Rangers have an even bigger task ahead of them.

If the scores are level on aggregate at the end of the 90 minutes, the teams will have to endure the lottery of penalties to decide just who will play the Island's elite teams next season.

Somerset: T.Figureido; G.Butterfield, R.Scott, J.Martin, Dwa.Basden; K.Roberts, J.Dill, D.Rahman (A.Tucker 80 mins), R.Bascome (L.Trew 86 mins), M.Brangman (L.Weekes 70 mins), D.Burchall.

Ireland Rangers: R.Tucker; D.Madeiros, D.DeRosa, T.Codrington, W.Anderson; R.Gomes, H.Santucci (T.Tankard 58 mins), R.Knight; S.Simons (J.Codrington, 67 mins), C.Anderson (J.Saltus, 80 mins); J.Bean.

Yellow cards: Lemuel Weekes (Somerset); Raymond Knight, Jermaine Saltus (Ireland Rangers).

Men of the Match: Rodney Bascome (Somerset); Jonathan Bean (Ireland Rangers).

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.