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Rams’ key players miss Cup final

Rams skipper Jemeiko Jennings will miss tomorrow’s Dudley Eve Final through suspension.(Photo by Tamell Simons)

North Village Rams will be without two of their most influential players for tomorrow’s Dudley Eve Final against Somerset Trojans at the National Sports Centre.Rams midfielder Ralph Bean Jr and skipper Jemeiko Jennings have both been ruled out of the cup clash.Bean is currently on vacation while Jennings is serving an automatic one-game suspension after picking up a third yellow card during Rams’ 1-0 Dudley Eve semi-final win over previous cup holders Dandy Town.Yet despite these omissions, Rams coach Shaun Goater is confident his players can prevail against Trojans.“We feel that if our players perform to their capabilities then we can come away with the desired result,” the former Manchester City striker said.Meanwhile, Trojans’ talisman Dion Stovell has been declared fit for tomorrow’s final. Fears that the Somerset striker could be ruled out through injury were laid to rest after club sources confirmed that he has trained with his team-mates this week.Doubts were raised over Stovell’s availability after he took a knock to the ankle near the end of Trojans’ 3-0 Dudley Eve semi-final win against St George’s Colts in which he netted.Trojans are expected to be at full strength for tomorrow’s cup clash.The West Enders will be out to avenge last season’s humbling 4-0 Friendship Trophy Final defeat to Rams which is the club’s heaviest loss in a cup final to date.Tomorrow’s contest will mark only the fifth time the West Enders have locked horns with Rams in a cup final and only the second meeting between the two sides in the Dudley Eve final.Rams won the first cup final involving the two highly decorated clubs when they beat Trojans 3-1 on aggregate in the 1979/80 Dudley Eve that was played over two legs.Somerset’s only wins over Rams in a cup final to date arrived in the 1979/80 Friendship Trophy (2-0) and 1991/92 Martonmere Cup (1-0).Rams have won the Dudley Eve more times (eight) than any other club while Trojans have won the showpiece on three occasions. The West Enders’ first triumph came in 1992/93 when they beat PHC Zebras 3-1 on aggregate.Trojans will go into tomorrow’s final with a psychological edge having already beaten Rams 3-2 in the earlier stages of the competition which honours the legacy of late Bermuda Football Association (BFA) executive Dudley Eve.Officials for tomorrow’s cup clash are Anthony Francis (referee), Antione Augustus (referee’s assistant), Stephen Allen (referee’s assistant) and Anthony Mouchette (fourth official).Kick off time is 3pm.