BERMUDA’S three most successful football clubs will be hoping to take one more step towards history this weekend when the second round of the FA Cup is staged. Defending champions North Village, PHC and Somerset Trojans will all be striving to become the first team to win the FA Cup 10 times, something which should have been achieved years ago when the Zebras and Trojans sat stuck on nine wins for several years. The Trojans last won the cup in 1989-90 when they beat Dandy Town in the final while PHC’s ninth win came in the 1991-92 season when they beat the same team in the final. At that same stage Village were only on four wins, but a winning run by the Rams in the new millennium has seen them win the island’s top knockout cup five times in the last seven finals.

Certainly Village are the team to beat in this competition, even if the defending champions have been below par in the other competitions. Village should get past First Division outfit X-Roads in their home tie, though X-Roads should be up for the contest after shocking Devonshire Colts in their last league outing. Prior to that X-Roads also beat league leaders Ireland Rangers and Wolves right after they won the Dudley Eve, so the indication is they get pumped up when playing the better teams.

December’s draw kept all the seven remaining Premier division teams apart, meaning that all could advance to the last eight of the competition in the last couple of months of the season.

The only team outside the Premier Division guaranteed to be in the quarter finals is either First Division side Prospect or Commercial outfit Valley FC who were the last two teams pulled out of the draw.

Prospect reached the final just three years ago when they were hammered 5-1 by North Village. They look favourites to reach the quarter-finals again, possibly going into the hat with seven Premier Division sides as the draw was friendly to them as well, putting them against either First Division or Commercial League opponents.

And while the FA Cup always produces a surprise two, there aren’t likely to be any in this round. Devonshire Cougars assistant coach Gary (Tuba) Mallory was clearly happy when his team was handed an away tie against First Division side First Division outfit Southampton Rangers. But he warned about overconfidence, knowing that Rangers, coached by former Cougars midfielder Brian (Bulla) Anderson, are capable of pulling off an upset. Anderson will also relish going up against his former team.

“The FA is a funny thing, it’s about who wants it on the day,” said Mallory on the day of the draw. “We’re satisfied with the draw but we have to give respect to them, too. They’re playing at their field so we’ll show them respect, but at the same time we’re going for it.

“It’s a cup to win and we intend to give out best for each trophy that we’re going for. It’s a favourable draw.”

Cougars recently qualified for another final, the Friendship, and will meet the winner of last night’s Somerset-Boulevard semi-final. After losing to the Trojans in the Premier’s Dudley Eve final, Cougars are now gunning for two end-of-season cups. They were stopped in the semi-finals last year by Dandy Town who went on to lose to Village 4-1 in the final. Town are the only Premier Division team not still in the FA Cup, having been beaten by Somerset Trojans in the elimination round.

Ireland Rangers, despite suffering a second loss of the season recently, are well on course for a quick return to the top flight and would love a good cup run to go with it. First team out in the draw, Rangers will meet rivals Somerset Trojans in what should be an interesting west end derby. The Trojans’ cup history makes them firm favourites but Ireland Rangers will be up for the challenge.

The Zebras are also at home, to Commercial champions Key West Rangers, in the first match of a double-header at Southampton Oval which also features Rangers and Cougars.

Boulevard should also advance when they take on Somerset Eagles while Paget should have the edge over St. George’s Colts in a tie that has been switched from White Hill to Wellington Oval. Bottom Premier Division side St. David’s take on Devonshire Colts hoping not to be on the receiving end of an upset.

Draw

Men’s FA Cup

Ir.Rangers v Somerset (Malabar), Paget v St. George’s (Wellington Oval), North Village v X-Roads (Bernard Park), St. David’s v Dev.Colts (St. David’s), Southampton Rangers v Dev.Cougars (Southampton Oval 2.30), PHC v Key West (Southampton Oval 12.30), Boulevard v Som.Eagles (BAA Field); Prospect v Valley (Police Field).>

Women’s FA Cup<$>

Prospect v Lady Rams (Police Field 12.30), Lady Cougars v Somerset Hurricanes (Dev. Rec 12.30).