Somerset Eagles 3 Hamilton Parish 2

Somerset Eagles went some way to restoring their reputation in the Premier Division with this victory at White Hill Field yesterday, thanks to goals from Keishon Bean, Aquino Grant and Antwan Russell.

The battle between the two bottom clubs saw ninth-placed Eagles hold the upperhand throughout with some enterprising football. But their failure to keep the foot on the throttle for longer spells when their opponents were struggling gave Kenny Thompson some anxious moments.

It was through Thompson himself that they scored two of their goals with the player-coach providing defence-splittling passes that allowed his forwards to move into goalscoring positions.

Parish completed most of the second half with 10 players after forward Angelo Cannonier was sent off for a second yellow card after 66 minutes – an incident which came close to escalating as Parish players threatened to walk off.

The game was played at a reasonably high level, considering bothteams are in a battle to retain their Premier Division status, but it was the home side who imposed themselves during the first 30 minutes.

In the opening stages Eagles looked capable of blowing their opponents out of sight with Russell watching in agony as Parish's outstanding goalkeeper Nigel Burgess came off his line to block shots from close range.

With Eagles in full flow a goal always seemed imminent and it came after 12 minutes when Thompson, combining well in the middle with Torri Davis, provided an opening for Keishon Bean to lob the ball home over Burgess' head.

Two minutes later Russell should have made it 2-0 but placed his shot straight into the chest of the 'keeper after coolly dribbling by a defender down the left flank.

Parish were struggling to find any rhythm and as such failed to put pressure on the Eagles defence, superbly marshalled by centre-backs Jaylon Bather and skipper Danvers Seymour.

Thompson threatened to score himself but his swift right-footed drive from 16 yards sailed inches wide of the left post.

Parish, now looking more composed and settled, staged a counter attack which saw Jamie Smith net after 32 minutes to earn his side a deserved equaliser.

Smith followed up that goal with a hard shot that went just wide from 17 yards after 38 minutes.

But just before the half, Eagles regained their early momentum and Keishon Bean was in position to put them ahead before Burgess fell to smother his shot from 10 yards out.

However, minutes later Grant came through with the go-ahead goal, putting Eagles in front after a scramble in front of goal.

Early second-half honours went to Eagles with Bean left in despair once again as his shot from 16 yards was sensationally pulled down by the efficient Burgess.

But a minute later Eagles were to find their mark, this time Russell giving them a 3-1 lead when he finished off a pin-point through ball from his coach.

Two minutes later more heroics from Burgess denied Russell from scoring again.

As was Eagles' problem throughout, they opted to ease the pressure when in position to go in for the kill.

And after 66 minutes their complacency almost saw Parish score from a quick counter. Instead Cannonier was ruled off side and his angry outburst led to a red card.

That incident almost saw some players come close to walking off the field and it was only Burgess' encouragement that persuaded them to continue to fight.

Indeed Burgess kept their victory hopes alive as he dived to save a point-blank shot from Grant after 72 minutes.

Finally Parish did pull a goal back through Shayne Hollis after 75 minutes with a shot from outside the box and soon after Marcel Dill in the Eagles goal had to dive to deny substitute Dejon Simmons an equaliser.

Before the final whistle Burgess was again called upon to prevent Parish from going further behind as he brilliantly stopped a shot from Keishon Bean who had charged through on a breakaway.

Eagles: M.Dill; A.Rocker, J.Bather, D.Seymour, A.Lambert; T.Davis, K.Thompson, A.Grant; D.Dowling (R.DeShields, 87 mins), K.Bean (J.Bean, 84 mins), A.Russell (S.Smith, 76 mins). Subs not used: T.Fubler, E.Trott, D.Andrade.

Scorers: K.Bean, A.Grant, A.Russell.

Yellow cards: K.Bean

Parish: N.Burgess; A.Hill, T.Webb, C.Hansey, T.Webb, R.Richardson; A.Ebbin (G.Walker, 73 mins), O.Allen (R.Evans, 56 mins), R.Trott; S.Hollis, J.Smith (D.Simmons, 62 mins), A.Cannonier. Subs not used: K.Cann, R.Simmons.

Scorers: J.Smith, S.Hollis

Red card: A.Cannonier

Referee: E.Holmes

Man of the match: T.Davis (Eagles).