Prosperity turned to recession for Somerset as after enjoying the fruits of domination in the first half they were forced into an all-out battle for survival by a gritty Devonshire Colts squad during the second half of this first-round Martonmere Cup tie.

The vociferous crowd on hand at PHC last night to witness this spectacle were not shunned excitement as the young Colts fought undeniably from two goals down to pull out a 2-2 draw against the defending champions, who fell apart following the 46th-minute sending-off of centre-back Trevor Dickinson for committing a blatant foul.

Somerset opened their campaign splendidly with two goals in quick succession.

Diminutive midfielder Reggie Tucker headed them into the lead through a well-executed set play to be followed by a score off the boot of Kelly Simmons. But tallies by Keishon Smith and Quincey Aberdeen enabled Colts to escape and almost seize a win.

With adrenalin pumping amid the tension mounting each team's first match of the season, both sides commenced at a furious pace only to have Somerset stun their opponents in the seventh minute when Tucker connected with a header at the far post.

Randy Simmons made a long throw from deep in Colts territory, which was headed over by Jerry Webb to an onrushing Tucker, who planted the ball past goalkeeper Andre Hendrickson.

Still rocked from the initial bombardment, the Devonshire team found themselves in an even deeper crisis a minute later when a failed clearance by Hendrickson resulted in Rodney Bascome presenting a chance for Kelly Simmons to produce some artistry, bending his right-foot shot past the scrambling 'keeper into the bottom left-hand corner.

Even with player/coach Lorenzo Symonds at the back Colts were continually subjected to unrelenting pressure from a the Trojans double strike combination of Bascome and Webb.

Richard Scott should have put his side three up after 24 minutes but blasted his shot from eight yards out embarrassingly wide after Webb had supplied the perfect cross from the left side.

Colts attacking tandem of Craig Smith, Aberdeen and Joseph Weeks were effectively neutralised by the Trojans' defence for much of the half with their limited number of shots expertly dealt with by Winslow Williams in goal.

While the first half wreaked of the more experienced side in Somerset the second saw the youngsters do a little grandstanding of their own.

And the introduction of substitute Keishon Smith for midfielder Ellington Weldon in the second half proved just the tonic. He caused immediate trouble going wide with an angled shot in the 61st minute and then avoiding Somerset's offside trap two minutes later, latching onto a pass from Symonds and slotting the ball past Williams.

Smith finally unleashed his fury with some tantalising runs at a defence now in almost total disarray. The powerfully built striker was the architect of his side's equaliser as he left two defenders in his wake on one such run and crossed for a streaking Aberdeen to head into the net.

Curtis Grant almost stole it for Somerset when his effort three minutes from time was brilliantly blocked by Hendrickson, but in the end it was they who were fortunate to endure.

Somerset: W.Williams; B.Simons, P.Place, T.Dickinson, G.Cann (G.Bremar, 78 mins); R.Simmons, K.Simmons (C.Grant, 81 mins), R.Tucker; R.Scott, J.Webb, R.Bascome.

Devonshire Colts: A.Hendrickson; J.Belboda, K.Burchall, L.Symonds, C.Wright; H.Trott (V.Ball, 70 mins), D.Wright, E.Weldon (K.Smith, 58 mins); C.Smith, Q.Aberdeen, J.Weeks.

Referee: Rex Osborne Men of the match: Winslow Williams (Somerset); Craig Smith (Devonshire Colts) KELLY SIMMONS -- Scored on hir return for Somerset.