All to play for in Dudley Eve Trophy group-stage finale
All eyes will be on the Dudley Eve Trophy group A double-header at PHC Field tonight, which will determine the remaining two semi-final spots up for grabs.
Group leaders Dandy Town will square off against Boulevard at 6pm with North Village doing battle with Paget Lions at 8pm.
The group winners and best runner-up in the three groups will advance to the last four in the competition, named in honour of the late Bermuda Football Association administrator and founding member.
Town are off to a flying start to the season having gone unbeaten in the Charity Cup and their opening two Dudley Eve Trophy group matches, but are wary of the threat Blazers pose.
“Our game against Boulevard will no doubt be difficult,” Town coach Jarreau Hayward told The Royal Gazette. “There are several connections between the clubs and some of the Dandy Town under-18 players transferred there.
“I really like what they are doing football-wise. They want to play the game and every player buzzes around the pitch. It's great to see.
“We just have to continue to follow our process in training and take the game one moment at a time.
“We are very early in our process but I'm very happy with our progress. It should be an exciting game.”
Village coach Cal Dill Jr is also bracing himself for a tough outing with Paget.
“Paget will always be a team that will fight to the end so we will have to put our early chances away and look to play for 90-plus minutes,” he said.
Lions captain Diaje Hart is optimistic his team can come away with the desired outcome.
“Village is always going to be a good team but I feel like we have the players that can beat them,” he said.
“I always say on any given day Paget can beat anybody. It just depends which Paget shows up that day.”
Meanwhile, Boulevard have forfeited the points from their 3-2 win over Paget at Goose Gosling Field on September 7 for fielding an ineligible player.
The BFA has yet to announce the sanction imposed on the club; however, sources from both affected parties have confirmed that action has been taken.
As a result, Boulevard’s chances of reaching the semi-finals were dashed after losing 2-1 to Village at Devonshire Recreation Club on Sunday.
PHC Zebras, who have played their complement of matches are the other side in with a chance but will rely on other results.
This leaves Town, Village and Paget to battle for the remaining two semi-final spots.
“We really don't deserve the points from Boulevard but at the end of the day we'll take it,” Paget captain Hart said.
“Now we just have to look forward to tomorrow and if we do our job, it's a possibility we can go through to the next round.”
PHC, who have played their complement of matches, are the other side in with a chance but will rely on other results.
Group B winners Devonshire Cougars and group C winners St George’s Colts have already secured their spots in the last four. Both teams topped their respective groups with four points and were unbeaten in their two group matches.
The semi-final draw will be held on Monday.
New Dudley Eve Trophy champions will be crowned this year, with Hamilton Parish relegated last season. Parish edged Paget 2-1 in last year’s final at Wellington Oval to land their first major title.