They might be down and wounded. . . but not necessarily out for the count.

Now the show must go on for Dandy Town Hornets tonight at Somerset Cricket Club.

And that?s exactly what fallen Hornet,Randy Swan would have wanted Town coach Devarr Boyles told The Royal Gazette following the tragic death of his promising full-back.

Swan, 24, died in hospital early Tuesday morning after suffering massive head injuries in a two-car collision near the entrance of Southampton Rangers Sports Club exactly one week ago.

But despite losing what was a key cog in Hornet?s defence, Town have vowed to soldier on and tonight open their Champions Cup campaign against Devonshire Cougars in the 9 p.m. night cap.

St.George?s take on Prospect in the 7 p.m. First Division Champions Cup curtain raiser.

?I don?t think he would want us to stop and be sad,? said Boyles. ?That wasn?t him. He would be saying ?let?s keep it going?. We have no choice (to play) and the commitment has already been made.

?And at least we would like to think that Randy would want us to continue to lace it up irrespective of what happened. So in memory of Randy that?s exactly what we are going to do.?

But first, Town will have shore up what has so far proven to one of the league?s stingiest defences as Swan?s untimely passing and the unavailability of veteran David Lawler have created voids at the back.

Now expected to fill those vacated spots are Jemieko Marshall, Kingsley Mundy or even Philip Lawrence.

Lawler is currently off-Island while Mundy returns from a lengthy absence due to work commitments.

Coach Boyles also has several youth players returning from studies abroad at his disposal, any of whom could possibly be called upon in attack as it remains doubtful key striker Khano Smith will be available for tonight?s cup clash against the big cats who return to the same venue where they took a 5-1 beating from Somerset Trojans late last month.

Hornets have struggled since early December, suffering a 2-1 league loss to North Village, dropping valuable points to Boulevard in a 1-1 stalemate and then being ousted from the FA Cup last weekend by a resurgent PHC Zebras.

Cougars are coming off a lopsided 9-0 FA Cup thrashing of commercial team Lobster Pot and coach Andrew Bascome has already hinted he might use the festive tournament to showcase some of his younger talent while resting some of the team?s key players.

It remains unclear whether Bascome will insert prolific striker Raymond Beach in tonight?s line up. Beach has so far scored in every game he has played in this season, banging in 14 goals in only seven appearances.

Last Tuesday night saw a new-look Zebras move to within a win of advancing to the January 2 Champions Cup final courtesy of a 3-0 shutout win over Somerset Eagles.

PHC can book a date in the final when they take on the eventual winner of tonight?s Cougars versus Town clash on Sunday (Boxing Day) at Lords.

Zebras made five changes to the squad that ousted Town from the FA Cup last Sunday, resting several key players while fielding three college kids against Eagles.

Likewise, Devonshire Colts are also one win away from appearing in the First Division Champions Cup after edging out St.David?s 1-0 on Tuesday night.

Colts will meet the eventual winner of tonight?s clash involving St.George?s and Prospect in what will be the second meeting between the two clubs in seven days.

l Somerset Cricket Club will play host to the 2004 Christmas Goodwill Football Tournament over the festive holiday.

The tournament, which kicked off with a double header last night, promotes friendship, unity and sportsmanship through football.

It also provides an opportunity to raise funds for worthy causes within the community.

Proceeds from this year?s tournament are to go in aid of 16-year-old burns victim Dejon Simmons.

The Berkeley Institute student continues to make steady progress overseas at the Shriners Burn Centre in Boston.

Simmons sustained severe burns to 95 percent of his body in a unfortunate cycle accident earlier this year.

The Somerset Extros Goodwill Football Tournament features commercial teams Vasco Mariners, Dockyard Falcons, Extros and Pest Control in a round robin format.

The festive competition concludes with the final and consolation final on Wednesday, January 4.

Admission is $5 at the gate while children under the age of seven will be admitted free.