Premier Division champions Devonshire Cougars lifted the Charity Cup for the first time in local football history last weekend.

The Big Cats thumped five goals past a hapless Devonshire Colts to bag the season's first piece of silverware at the third attempt.

Prior to last Saturday's carnage at BAA Field, Cougars were on the receiving end of 2-1 and 4-3 losses to six-time Charity Cup winners North Village Rams.

Now having savoured early success, Cougars have placed their sights on a Somerset Trojans side that got the better of them on five occasions last season when the two Premier Division rivals face off in this Saturday's Martonmere Cup double header at BAA Field.

Cougars again demonstrated their ferocious attacking ability against Colts in their previous outing. But what pleased assistant coach Gary (Tuba) Mallory the most about his team's convincing win was the manner in which his defence put the handcuffs on Colts' frontrunners.

"One of our main objectives over the past few seasons has been to improve defensively and this is what we have steadily worked on. And I think once we put everything together we will be even more dangerous because we already know we can score goals," said Mallory. One new arrival in the Cougars' defence with high expectations placed on his shoulders is central defender Kijuan Franks who enjoyed a successful debut against Colts.

"Franks' towering physical presence and composure at the rear are attributes that make him highly rated," Mallory said.

"Kijuan definitely brings something extra to the table and reinforces our defence," he added. Franks, who broke ranks at First Division St. David's over the off-season, seems to have settled in nicely at his new abode.

"It's a nice vibe at Devonshire. . . . it's more like one big, happy family," he said.

Franks said the transition from Lord's to the Den has so far been a "smooth one". And he is relishing the new challenges he faces playing for one of the league's top dogs under new coach Shawn Smith – himself once a highly rated central defender.

"He (Smith) gives you advice and passes on tips here and there and I think I've knitted in quite nicely. Having already played in the Premier Division with St. David's last season I know what to expect," Franks said.

Cougars opted to go with two centre backs in Franks and Mallory's son Ijahmon in a four-man formation at the rear during their last outing, a tactic that has so far returned big dividends. "So far so good ... but all of that is subject to change. It all depends on which formation the coach (Smith) decides to go with on the day," Mallory said.

Obviously buoyant following their 5-0 Charity Cup demolition of Colts, Mallory has cautioned his troops not to get ahead of themselves and lose focus prior to Saturday's crucial Martonmere clash with Trojans.

"We realiSe it's going to be a battle and may the best team win. But as champions we already know that everybody is going to come gunning after us and so we are not going to allow our guys to become overconfident," he said. Undoubtedly, Cougars will be out to avenge some big losses to Trojans last season, among them the Dudley Eve and Friendship Trophy finals. "We respect Somerset and know Dennis (Somerset coach Brown) is going to motivate his players. Somerset gave us a lot of trouble last season – and every team does have a jinx. But we have to now try and turn the tables around in our favour," Mallory added. Since lifting a maiden Premier Division title in 2004-05, Mallory reckons Cougars have grown in "leaps and bounds" – a trend he hopes to see continued over the upcoming season.

"I think we can actually get even better. We have a good mixture of youth and experience at the club while players such as Domico (Coddington), Ajani (Gibbons) and Reggie (Baker) are still to come," he noted.

The irrepressible Coddington remains sidelined with a foot injury while youngsters Gibbons and Baker are both waiting in the wings for the chance to rejoin their team-mates on the pitch.

Mallory, however, made it clear that nobody's place is secure at the Den with competition fierce for spots. "Our players know they cannot relax because someone else is always looking over their shoulders," he said.

"Nobody wants to be left out of this squad and this is what you need – everybody fighting for places."