Somerset Trojans suffered a crushing 5-0 defeat to Don Bosco, the Haitian champions, during their opening group two match of the Caribbean Football Union Club Championships last night at the Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-au-Prince.

The Trojans held their own against Don Bosco in the first half, keeping them out until the 44th minute when the home team broke the deadlock through Kenley Dede. They became more dominant in the second half, scoring four more goals as the Somerset players began to tire.

Shaquille Bean in the Somerset goal, made some excellent saves throughout the match to keep the semi-pro team from winning by an even bigger margin.

The Trojans, who won last season’s Premier Division, were boosted by the arrival from England of three college students, Justin Corday, Jaz Ratteray-Smith and Jaellan Greaves, with Corday and Ratteray-Smith starting the game.

Two others, Justin Donawa and William White, opted to return to their studies in the United States after representing Bermuda in two friendly matches in St Kitts and Nevis last weekend.

Somerset will play their second preliminary match tomorrow when they take on La Gauloise of Guadeloupe at the same venue.

It is the first time in four years that a Bermudian club has featured in the tournament, North Village being the last back in 2012.

Trojans face a tough schedule over the next several days, with a Premier Division encounter against Devonshire Cougars on Monday night their third game in six days.

Champions last year, the West End side are in more danger of being relegated this time around than of successfully defending their title.

Keishon Smith’s side are just six points above Southampton Rangers, who are bottom, a far cry from the position they found themselves in exactly a year ago.

Then they were top on 28 points, seven points ahead of Dandy Town.

This time Dandy Town are six points clear, and depending on how the weekend pans out, the title race could be all but over.

Robin Hood can narrow the gap to three points briefly on Saturday night if they beat Devonshire Colts, but Town face Rangers the next day and a win would all but seal the title.