Dandy Town 3 Somerset Trojans 1

Jomar Wilkinson, the Dandy Town coach, believes that his side have turned the corner after defeating Somerset Trojans in their Friendship Trophy quarter-final at St John’s Field yesterday.

Town failed to win any of their opening six league matches but have improved in recent weeks, winning 5-1 away to Flanagan’s Onions before a close 2-1 defeat at home to league leaders PHC Zebras.

Although he has written off his side’s chances of retaining their league title, Wilkinson hopes that Town can become a “cup team” this season and was encouraged by their display against Trojans.

“I was definitely pleased with our performance today and we played as a team,” Wilkinson said. “We’re heading in the right direction as we got off to a slow start this season. Our last few games have been promising and now we want to keep building and go from strength to strength.”

“We’re off the pace in the league but we’re trying to do our best to be a cup team and we’ll see what happens.”

Town thought they had scored in the sixteenth minute but Jahtino Richardson-Martin was ruled offside after following up a rebound when Shaquille Bean, the Trojans goalkeeper, spilt a free kick.

It took until the half-hour mark for Town to take the lead, Damon Ming cutting inside from the left and firing into the top corner beyond the outstretched dive of Bean.

Trojans, missing injured pair Trevin Ming and Vernon Perinchief, were offering very little going forward and found themselves further behind after a fine solo effort from Korvon Tucker.

Seemingly coasting to victory, Town then threw Trojans a lifeline when Dale Eve, the Hornets goalkeeper, failed to hold on to a shot from Justin Donawa allowing Jonny Bean to fire home the loose ball.

Bean’s goal sparked Trojans into life with Town having to absorb some real pressure for the first time in the match, although Angelo Simmons, the Town, captain, ensured they would be no comeback with a neat finish.

“They really started to come at us after they scored and we had to absorb some pressure,” Wilkinson said. “We got stuck in there and the guys showed a lot of effort — I appreciated that.

“We showed a lot of character and a willingness to dig deep and that’s what’s need going forward.

“The captain is going from strength to strength and that third goal was needed and relieved some pressure. Angelo did a captain’s job.”

SCORERS

Dandy Town

Ming 31, Tucker 70, Simmons 82

Somerset Trojans

Bean 75

TEAMS

Dandy Town (3-4-3): D Eve — K Lathan, J Stowe, O Lowe (sub: T Goater, 68min) — K Wade, K Tucker, S Darrell, J Swan — D Ming (sub: Z Burchall, 75), A Simmons, J Richardson-Martin (sub: A Lewis, 75). Substitutes not used: E Blankendal, D Williams. Booked: Lewis.

Somerset Trojans (4-5-1): S Bean — S Brangman, R Cann, D Lister, T Outerbridge — M Joell, K Wilson, T Wade, J Bean, C Durham — J Corday. Substitutes not used: J Ratteray-Smith, A Seaman, V Wall-Brown, R Simmons.

Referee: M Wyer.