Somerset Trojans picked up their first away win of the season last weekend at Garrison Field, but an even tougher match awaits tomorrow when they travel to PHC Field to play the Premier Division leaders in the Friendship Trophy quarter-finals.

The Trojans moved away from the relegation zone with the three points against X-Roads Warriors as some of the younger players in their team played their first match at the ground. They also had two players playing their first match of the season, with goalkeeper Shaquille Bean back from a three-month suspension and college student Justin Donawa scoring one of the goals in the 3-1 victory.

“He’s a big boost to the team, he makes everyone accountable,” coach Danvers Seymour Jr said of Bean. “It [Garrison Field] was a different environment for some of our players, on the waterside.

“I played there once, against X-Roads when I first came back to Somerset.”

Somerset are tied with North Village with 11 wins in the competition while PHC Zebras have ten. Somerset won the cup two years ago when they beat PHC 2-1 in the final, but the Zebras will be favourites on their home field.

“We’re going to the game hopeful and will look to put our best foot forward,” said Seymour, who respects what PHC have accomplished this season, being unbeaten in all competitions.

“Hard work over the years is paying off, so they are reaping the benefits of their long-term investment. We’re taking it one game at a time.”

Somerset’s only other win this season came on November 19, when they beat Devonshire Cougars 3-2 at home. The win last weekend lifted them ahead of X-Roads in the standings, although still only three points above Flanagan’s Onions in the second relegation spot.

Both Onions and X-Roads will be looking for wins to lift their spirits over the Christmas period. X-Roads face a tough trip to Goose Gosling Field, where they recently scored four goals but still had to settle for a share of the points with Onions. Tomorrow’s opponents, Robin Hood, are fresh off a 10-1 thrashing of Boulevard Blazers, so the task will be a mammoth one for the Warriors.

Onions face holders Cougars aiming to end a bad run of form. They have conceded 32 goals in their nine league games and have just one win in the league, a 4-1 result against Young Men’s Social Club in October. Their six losses include a 9-0 defeat by PHC and a 6-0 reverse against Town.