New St George’s Colts coach Mishael Paynter faces his first test in a Dudley Eve Trophy encounter against Dandy Town at Bernard Park tonight (7pm).

Paynter, who took over the coaching role after Drewonde Bascome parted ways with the Premier Division club at the end of the last season, has a daunting task as the East Enders suffered a massive player exodus during the transfer window.

Blaiz Hall, a mainstay of St George’s in recent years, will be on the opposite side tonight as his former team try to get a perfect start in a competition they won last season.

Dandy Town did not get their season off to an ideal start when they lost the Charity Cup to North Village but coach Jarreau Hayward has asked the club’s fans to be patient.

“For us the Dudley Eve is another opportunity to develop the team, lay a brick, recover players and add to our in-game fitness,” Hayward said.

“We were unlucky not to make the final last season after having a legitimate goal disallowed, finishing the game 0-0 and then losing on penalties, but that’s football.

“In every moment we learn and then we look forward. The goal for this competition is to continue to learn where we are and what we can be.

“We ask that our fans show patience as there is a bit of a hangover from last season’s success, but we will continue to follow our process.

“We will absolutely continue to improve and my feeling is that we will absolutely make them proud.”

Village will be looking to build on that success over Town when they meet Somerset Trojans in the second match of the night (9pm).

Calvin Dill Jr’s side last won the early-season competition in 2023 when they defeated Devonshire Cougars at Somerset.

“We’re just looking forward to playing our style of football and getting the job done,” Dill told The Royal Gazette.

“Our players are hungry for more trophies after winning the Charity Cup. They have put a challenge to the coaches to get them over the line.

“Our plan is to win everything on offer this season but we have to go step by step and take each game as it comes.

“Somerset are a nice group of young men that have been together for a long time. I think they’ve got some new additions to their team, so we have to keep a close eye on them and we should not take them for granted.”

In Dudley Eve Trophy matches scheduled for Devonshire Rec on Sunday, PHC go in search of their second win when they take on X-Roads (4pm), who are playing their first group match.

Cougars, who lost 4-3 to Devonshire Colts in their first group encounter, are up against Paget (6pm).