Hornets all but clinch the title
Dandy Town came from behind to grab an important point at Somerset Trojans to all but wrap up the Digicel Premier Division league title.The runaway leaders could lose their final two league games and still clinch the title, with nearest rivals PHC, who have a game in-hand, having a far inferior goal difference.It was the hosts who had the brighter start at Somerset Cricket Club last night, with Jonathon Bean bagging a first half brace to threaten to spoil Hornets' championship party.Whatever Town coach Jomar Wilkinson said during the interval seemed to do the trick, though, with the visitors pulling level via strikes from youngster Tre Manders and veteran marksman Raymond Beach.“It was a hard game for us at the beginning, they made it hard for us in terms of passing the ball around and playing physical football, so it was good to get this result,” said Town striker Lyn Tucker.“Our team showed a lot of character and stuck together to get the point. It's never easy to get a job done on the but it comes down to us and playing our style.”Bean was the chief tormentor in Hornets' side, stepping up in the 35th minute to put the hosts in front when he beat his marker to a cross, slotting home comfortably.The striker wasn't satisfied with one goal, and then planted his next effort past goalkeeper Treadwell Gibbons to put his side two up after 42 minutes.Trojans should have increased their advantage but wasteful finishing allowed Hornets back into the game.Beach had a good chance in the 76th, but his close range effort rattled the frame of the goal before bouncing to safety for Trojans.Tre Manders grabbed the first goal for Town in the 79th minute.The goal seemed to be the catalyst for the league leaders who laid siege on Trojans' goal, but resolute defending saw the hosts deal with each attack to conserve their lead.It was left to skipper Beach to grab the equaliser, and hand his side an unassailable nine point lead at the top of the table.Damon Ming said he was thrilled to move a step closer to the title. “We started off slow and they came out ready to play; they have a good young side and no one wants to lose a game at home so they came out with hunger,” he said. “We had a talk at the break and sorted a few things out and it worked out in our favour.“The feeling hasn't sunk in, the season hasn't finished yet and we are (unofficially) champions but this goes out to our coaching staff and the players for buying into a system that worked out in the end.”