Somerset Trojans’ Premier Division title hopes went up in smoke after an insipid draw against PHC Zebras at a windy Somerset Cricket Club on Saturday night.

The manner of Trojans’ abject performance was somewhat surprising given that nothing less than a victory would have kept their slim title hopes alive.

Despite deserving very little from the dour encounter, with PHC creating the better scoring opportunities, Trojans thought they had rescued a victory when substitute Anton Seaman struck in injury time to set off joyous scenes on the home side’s bench.

Those celebrations of relief were soon punctured, however, with Tracy Adams, the assistant referee, adjudging Seaman to have fouled Malachi Jones, the PHC goalkeeper, before tapping the ball into an empty net.

Somersets’ understandable frustrations then turned ugly with Deunte Darrell, the Trojans striker, receiving a red card after the final whistle for foul and abusive language towards an official.

Neither team created much in the way of chances during a drab first half with PHC striker, Marco Piper, going the closest to breaking the deadlock with a shot from distance that flew just over the bar.

After the break it was mid-table PHC, who were playing for nothing more than pride, showing greater urgency and appetite for victory than Trojans, the title contenders, much to the displeasure of the Trojans supporters.

The visiting side threatened in quick succession when Cecoy Robinson, the PHC captain, saw an effort blocked by his opposite number Trevin Ming after good work down the left wing by Johnny Ball, the team president and left back.

Robert Richardson then sent a header over the bar from the ensuing corner taken by Robinson before Sean Brangman, the Trojans forward, hit the woodwork with a rebound that he should have scored from after Jones had parried Vashun Blancette’s long-distance effort.

Robinson was then unlucky not to open the scoring when he burst through the Trojans defence before curing a shot around Shaquille Bean, the onrushing goalkeeper, and onto the inside of the post with ball bouncing back across goal and out of danger.

Further chances went begging for PHC late on with second-half substitute strikers Khamisi Lightbourne and Shakir Smith both squandering glorious chances to earn their team a deserved win.