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Village set sights on Friendship history

Photo by Glenn Tucker North Village celebrate winning the Friendship final at National Stadium April 10, 2011

North Village Rams can become only the third team to win three Friendship Trophy titles on the trot with victory over fellow cup giants Somerset Trojans in tomorrow’s final at the National Sports Centre.A Rams’ win would also land them an unprecedented 11th Friendship Trophy crown.Shaun Goater’s team have dominated the competition in the past decade, winning a remarkable six titles in seven final appearances.Rams were also the first team to raise the showpiece having pipped defunct Wellington Rovers in the inaugural final in 1965/66.However, Trojans boast an equally proud legacy in the Friendship Trophy with nine titles under their belt. Somerset are also the only team to date to win four Friendship Trophy titles in consecutive seasons.The West Enders’ last taste of success in the competition arrived on the back of a thumping 4-0 demolition of Devonshire Cougars in the 2006-07 final at Wellington Oval, a performance they will undoubtedly be looking to emulate in tomorrow’s eagerly-anticipated contest at the NSC.Incredibly, tomorrow marks the first time that Trojans and Rams have locked horns in a cup final in exactly two decades and only the fourth time overall.Players such as Rams’ striker Jahquan Smith- DeShields and Somerset goalkeeper Shaquille Bean were not even born when Trojans pipped Rams 1-0 in the 1991/92 Martonmere Cup final. Trojans also beat Rams 2-0 in the 1979/80 Friendship Trophy final.Rams’ sole win against Trojans in a cup final also arrived during the 1979/80 campaign when they prevailed 3-1 on aggregate in the then two-legged Dudley Eve final.If all goes according to script, Rams’ president Shervin Dill hopes to even the score in tomorrow’s cup showdown between the perennial giants.“That will be the intent, to even the score,” he declared. “Preparations have gone really well and I would say we are at full-strength.”Trojans beat Rams 4-2 in a Premier contest earlier this month and, as such, will enter tomorrow’s clash with confidence soaring.“I think the guys are starting to believe in themselves and really don’t think they should fear any team,” commented Trojans coach Mike Corday, who is making his first appearance in a major cup final as a top flight coach. “We have a lot of young players and right now we seem to have a nice balance.”One player Trojans will miss tomorrow is defender Zaki Iris who has been ruled out through suspension.“We are going to miss Zaki’s pace but we have players through the team that can step up and do the job, we will be fine,” Corday said.With their own cup winning pedigree on the line, former Trojans’ forward Corday anticipates that Rams will be a tough proposition on the day.“We know that Village is a cup team and are quality,” he said. “We are coming to play and I expect that Village are also coming to play so the fans can expect a real treat.”Dill echoed Corday’s sentiments.“Knowing the history of both clubs this promises to be an exciting match,” he said. “We are looking to provide a good game for both sets of fans.”Village take on Trojans at 5pm.