COLLEGE student Freddie Hall won his first trophy with St. George's Colts on Tuesday night in Somerset in the Dudley Eve Tournament, but if things go according to plan his playing days with his hometown club will be numbered after he graduates in a year.

The 23-year-old goalkeeper, who was one of the outstanding players of the holiday tournament after conceding just one goal in three matches and making four crucial saves during two penalty shootouts, has aspirations of turning professional after college in either the US or Europe.

Already the youngster is tipped to be a future Bermuda goalkeeper, but that, he admits, isn't top of his priority list.

"Not really, my main aspiration is to make it professionally, I don't know what the future holds when it comes to the national team but right now that isn't one of my priorities, it's more about trying to jumpstart my career," said Hall who is hoping to attract the attention of a professional club.

After helping his hometown team to their first trophy of the season, Hall hopes to put them on the road to another when the east enders travel to Somerset again on Sunday for a Shield clash with BAA. Next week he heads back to school in Quinnipiac, Connecticut to resume his studies, but he is confident the team, unbeaten in the league since their opening match to the Trojans in October, can go on and clinch promotion back to the top flight.

"I think if the guys believe in themselves and do the simple things we should have a good fighting chance," said the nephew of another top St. George's goalkeeper, Troy Hall. "I enjoyed playing with those guys."

Troy ,who stood aside to allow his nephew to feature in the Dudley Eve, will no doubt resume first team duties once Freddie heads back to school.

Troy's experience, along with that of club president and player-coach Neil Paynter, has been one of the reasons for the young team's success this season.

"I wouldn't say so much we figured we were going to win it (Dudley Eve), but after taking the shortest route (to the final) we thought we had a fighting chance. We went into the tournament confident but our main goal wasn't to win the tournament, promotion is our main goal," said their young 'keeper.

Another college student, Jarreau Hayward, captained the team in Tuesday night's 4-3 penalty shootout win after it was scoreless after 90 minutes. But it was Hall who took the man of the match honours with another stirling performance between the sticks, saving two kicks, including one from Somerset captain Jelani Scott who also missed a penalty in regulation time which could have won the match for the Trojans.

Teams don't usually go to 'Silver City' and beat the Trojans in finals, but the win was the second over the west enders in this year's tournament – and both times at Somerset Cricket Club. They were the only team of the eight competing in the tournament that went through the competition unbeaten after Boulevard, who also won their first two matches, came undone in the final when Dandy Town beat them 6-5 on penalty kicks. Town dedicated that victory to former defender Machai Campbell who was killed in a road accident last week. He was buried on Wednesday.

l Sunday's Friendship and Shield action should produce some excitement as teams battle for semi-final spots. St. George's should be favoured to clinch one of the Shield semi-final spots when they take on BAA in the opening match at Somerset while cup holders St. David's also travel west, to White Hill Field, where they will take on fellow promotion contenders Ireland Rangers.

St. George's had their league match with Somerset Eagles postponed on Sunday because of the rescheduled Dudley Eve final and St. David's duly got the win over Young Men's Social Club to reclaim top spot in the league. After a disappointing Dudley Eve, St. David's will be aiming to bounce back in both the league and Shield. Like St. George's, they were humbled by a Commercial Division team in the FA Cup in November.

The other two Shield matches will see Eagles playing X-Roads at St. David's and Prospect meeting the Trojans at Devonshire Rec.

Shaun Goater officially steps into the head coach job at North Village when the Rams open the defence of their Friendship title at Somerset against Dandy Town in what should be the top match. Village failed to qualify for the Dudley Eve, which they won last year, so now the expectations are high that they will turn their season around with a new coach at the helm.

PHC and Devonshire Cougars, who both failed to reach the Dudley Eve final, will meet at St. David's in another interesting match-up on Sunday while Boulevard take on Hamilton Parish at Devonshire and Southampton Rangers clash with struggling Devonshire Colts at White Hill.

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Schedule

Saturday

Under 18: Somerset v Southampton Rangers (Somerset 8.00).

Sunday

North Village v Boulevard (Bernard Park 12.30); FC Bascome v Dandy Town (Garrison 12.30).

Sunday

Shield: Ireland Rangers v St. David's (White Hill); Som. Eagles v X-Roads (St. David's); BAA v St. George's (Somerset); Prospect v Somerset Trojans (Devonshire Rec.). Matches start at 12.30.

Friendship Trophy: PHC v Dev. Cougars (St. David's); Boulevard v Ham. Parish (Devonshire Rec); Dandy Town v North Village (Somerset); Southampton Rangers v Dev. Colts (White Hill). Matches start at 3.00.