Group B leaders Dandy Town became the first club to qualify for this season's Martonmere Cup semi-finals at BAA Field last Saturday night.

Hornets outscored eight-time Martonmere Cup winners North Village Rams - who now find themselves on the verge of elimination - 3-1 in their season opener to get the 2007-08 campaign off the ground in style.

Yet rather then get caught up in the moment, Town coach Devarr Boyles went to great lengths yesterday to downplay his team's inspiring win that has guaranteed them a place in the final four.

"It was a result that had elements of a good performance - but it was just a start," he said. "Some players played at acceptable levels while others did not. But it is still early in the season."

Other than a fourth overall Charity Cup win last season, Town's loyal supporters had nothing else to cheer about as cross-town rivals Devonshire Cougars and Somerset Trojans shared the bulk of the remaining league and cup honours between them.

But having made a very promising start to the new campaign, an encouraged Boyles hopes his team's fortunes have taken a turn for the better as they go in search of a second Martonmere title in three years.

"We always believe we are a top club and always try to operate like one," he added.

Hornets will now take on last year's beaten finalists PHC Zebras in their remaining Group B match at the Den on October 9 knowing they will advance to the last four no matter the outcome of the contest.

Boyles, however, made it perfectly clear Hornets do not intend to show up against Zebras in charitable mood.

"We must show integrity to all the teams in competition by playing our best team which is what we have always done and will continue to do," he said.

Zebras need only to take a point off Town early next month or finish the group phase of the competition with a superior goal difference over Rams (plus one), whose Martonmere Cup fate is now out of their own hands, in order to advance to the final four.

"We have one point and a good chance of getting through and so basically a draw is good enough for us to qualify to the next round," Zebras coach Kyle Lightbourne calculated.

"Dandy Town are in a position whereas they have qualified and so now it's up to us to make sure that we qualify."

Lightbourne said he was "very encouraged" by his team's scoreless draw with Rams earlier this month, but warned them against being lured into a false sense of belief they have already arrived.

"We have to go into the game against Dandy Town with a very positive frame of mind in order to get to the next stage," he added. "We have to approach this game as if we want to qualify and that's the mentaliity I am looking for from the players."

Rams coach Elliott Jennings admits his team's chances of advancing in the competition now appear bleak, but nevertheless has vowed to keep hope alive.

"If PHC get through (to the next round) then we wish them best of luck because we had our turn but did not capitalise," Jennings said. "So we will just have to wait and see what happens and then go on from there."

Meanwhile, in Group A, leaders and cup holders Cougars need only take a point off Boulevard in their final group match on Saturday at BAA Field to advance to the semis.

MARTONMERE CUP STANDINGS

GROUP A

P W D L F A Pts

Devonshire Cougars 1 1 0 0 3 1 3

Somerset Trojans 1 0 0 1 1 3 0

Boulevard 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

GROUP B

P W D L F A Pts

Dandy Town 1 1 0 0 3 1 3

North Village Rams 2 0 1 1 1 3 1

PHC Zebras 1 0 1 0 0 0 1