PHC Zebras, the most successful team in FA Cup history with ten wins, will be aiming to secure a place in their 20th final when they meet holders Robin Hood at Somerset Cricket Club at 8 o’clock tonight.

PHC will also be hoping to win a cup final at the third time of asking this season, after losing the Dudley Eve and Friendship finals to Devonshire Cougars.

Dandy Town Hornets and North Village play in the other semi-final tomorrow night at Goose Gosling Field (9pm), possibly setting up a repeat of last year’s final between Hood and Town, which Hood won 2-0 to claim their first FA Cup crown.

For the Zebras, their season has come down to three, possibly four, league and cup games as they are also still in contention for the league, trailing Robin Hood by a point with just two games remaining.

Hood handed PHC their first loss (1-0) in the league last month and Scott Morton, the PHC coach, expects another close match from this season’s surprise team who are on the verge of a first league title.

“It’s going to be another exciting match, we saw in the last match that obviously they prepared well for us,” Morton said of tonight’s match. “It’s the same respect we have for them, but we plan on taking it as just another game for us because sometimes you look too much into these matches and lose your way.

“We’re 1-1 this season, we beat them the first time and then they beat us, so it is not about revenge, just another game that we have to prepare for.

“Internally we have to find another level because our level has dropped off from the beginning of the season which is due to a lot of different factors. That’s what football is about, the coaching staff just have to find a way to bring the players back on the level that we expect from us.”

Morton, who is in his first season as PHC coach, twice missed out on a first trophy with the club after their defeats by Cougars. Zebras are hoping it will be third time lucky in the FA Cup, where they have had so much success.

“That’s the history that PHC brings, a beautiful history and I take pride in being able to continue it on,” Morton said.

The FA Cup may be in their own hands but they need Somerset Eagles or Boulevard to take points off leaders Robin Hood in the league — and then beat third-placed Village themselves — if they are to have a chance to add to their nine league titles.

“I know they are feeling a bit of pressure and we shouldn’t take any team lightly, whoever we play, because all the teams are fighting for respect, first and foremost,” the coach said. “We have a young team and not a team with a lot of experience, though the club has a big history.

“Also they had the pressure on them of almost going undefeated [in league] this season and being in two cup finals and losing them both.

“But that’s all part of what makes you grow. For me it’s been a huge success because we’ve been consistent and that’s what you ask of your players.”

Morton was at the National Stadium on Sunday to see seven of his players in the Bermuda Select squad for the match against New York Cosmos — including Stefan Dill, Marco Warren, Na’eem Griffith, Tre Ming and Mazhye Burchall, who were in the starting team. Ming scored a wonder goal early in the second half to give the local team the lead, though he is doubtful for tonight’s game because of school commitments abroad.

“I definitely will support them as I did on Sunday, going to the game and taking notes,” Morton said. “I hope they value that experience and I’m looking for those players, especially, to bring that experience to the rest of our games this season.

“When you get the opportunity to play against a higher opposition it is important that you learn from that.

“I’m glad they got the opportunity, we had a break so it allowed them to get some minutes in against a better opposition than they would meet week in and week out. They did the club and themselves proud.”

Morton was delighted, but not totally surprised, by Ming’s effort from 40 yards.

“That’s normal Tre, he does that in training and has done it in matches before, so it was no surprise to me,” he said. “It was beautiful all-round, the vision he had to execute that was first class. The other thing about it was it was with the wind and he was able to gauge it with the wind speed.”