Rangers are handed chance of revenge
in the FA Cup quarter-final draw, while, for the second straight year, top Premier Division teams Dandy Town and Vasco have been drawn against each other.
Lobster Pot face a tough away match against in-form Premier Division leaders North Village while Onions will meet the winners of last night's second round replay Devonshire Colts.
The draw was held live on television for the first time at the Bermuda Broadcasting studios. Young Men's Social Club, who produced the upset of the last round when they beat PHC 1-0, were the first team out as they earned home advantage against Southampton Rangers at Bernard Park. All the matches are scheduled for February 13.
Rangers coach Earl Basden watched the draw and was immediately reminded of last season when his team lost to Social Club in the first round. "Actually a couple of my players said they wanted Social Club, to get a Rangers out for revenge chance to exact revenge from last season,'' said Basden.
"It didn't really bother me who we got but it's just unfortunate we have to go on the road again, and it looks as though we'll be playing 12.30 again.'' Rangers struggled to get by First Division team Hamilton Parish on Sunday, when Donnie Charles' late goal finally settled the tie. Basden expects Social Club to be just as difficult.
"You can't underestimate anyone, whether it's a First Division team or a Premier Division team having a bad season,'' said the coach.
"We made our life hard down at St. David's against Parish by not stamping our authority on the match and allowing Hamilton Parish to frustrate us.'' Only one Commercial team has reached the semi-finals of the cup, that feat managed by Robin Hood in 1991 when, after beating First Division teams Wolves in the first round and Warwick in the quarter-finals, they came unstuck against PHC 3-0.
Now Lobster Pot and MR Onions will attempt to match that feat by reaching the last four. Pot will have to be at their best to beat the Red Devils on their home ground, but player-coach Alan Turner says they'll be up for it.
"We're looking forward to it, it will probably be the biggest game that a lot of these guys have ever played,'' said Turner of the Village match.
"Hopefully they'll be fired up for it. I just hope we play some decent football. We're not going to go out there and stick 10 men behind the ball.
"We've got nothing to lose, there is a big gulf between skill and fitness but if they have a bad day and we have a good day it might be a close game.'' The only all-Premier Division match will be at St. John's field where Dandy Town host Vasco in what will be a repeat of last year's quarter-final tie.
Town won that match 3-1 and then beat North Village in the semi-finals before losing to Colts in the final.
Rangers out for revenge chance to exact revenge from last season,'' said Basden.
"It didn't really bother me who we got but it's just unfortunate we have to go on the road again, and it looks as though we'll be playing 12.30 again.'' Rangers struggled to get by First Division team Hamilton Parish on Sunday, when Donnie Charles' late goal finally settled the tie. Basden expects Social Club to be just as difficult.
"You can't underestimate anyone, whether it's a First Division team or a Premier Division team having a bad season,'' said the coach.
"We made our life hard down at St. David's against Parish by not stamping our authority on the match and allowing Hamilton Parish to frustrate us.'' Only one Commercial team has reached the semi-finals of the cup, that feat managed by Robin Hood in 1991 when, after beating First Division teams Wolves in the first round and Warwick in the quarter-finals, they came unstuck against PHC 3-0.
Now Lobster Pot and MR Onions will attempt to match that feat by reaching the last four. Pot will have to be at their best to beat the Red Devils on their home ground, but player-coach Alan Turner says they'll be up for it.
"We're looking forward to it, it will probably be the biggest game that a lot of these guys have ever played,'' said Turner of the Village match.
"Hopefully they'll be fired up for it. I just hope we play some decent football. We're not going to go out there and stick 10 men behind the ball.
"We've got nothing to lose, there is a big gulf between skill and fitness but if they have a bad day and we have a good day it might be a close game.'' The only all-Premier Division match will be at St. John's field where Dandy Town host Vasco in what will be a repeat of last year's quarter-final tie.
Town won that match 3-1 and then beat North Village in the semi-finals before losing to Colts in the final.