"heartbroken'' after his side slipped to FA Cup defeat against Boulevard on Thursday.

Horton knew how close his team had come to ousting the holders with a stirring performance which just lacked the finishing touch. It's a problem they've had all season, scoring just 12 goals in 13 league games -- the lowest in the First Division.

"It's so hard,'' he groaned. "We played so well and had a number of chances we should have put away, but we didn't have the luck.

"In the dressing room afterwards the players were disappointed but not dejected. They knew they'd played some good football and had the right game plan, but they also know they have nobody to blame but themselves.'' Boulevard striker Dwight Warren scored the only goal of the game, scooping home from six yards out after Neil Robinson and Kenneth Hill had carved out a rare opportunity for the visitors in the 40th minute.

Ironically, the goal came moments after Trojans had opened up the over-stretched Blazers defence twice in a minute.

"It was just a poor decision,'' said Horton. "Instead of clearing the ball we tried to play football. Sometimes, when in doubt, you just have to lash it out.

"But congratulations to Boulevard, that's the sign of a champion. They just need one chance and they put it away.'' While the result left Boulevard contemplating a three-pronged attack on the Bermuda Football Association trophy cabinet -- they're in the semi-finals of the Friendship Trophy, and could pounce on any slip up by Vasco in the league -- Somerset, currently fourth from bottom in the First Division, have only a battle against the drop to look forward to.

But Horton is confident his side will not make a rapid return to the lower echelons. "We've never felt we were going to go down,'' he said. "Apart from Vasco, who gave us a clinic, we've been in every game. We belong in the First Division.'' Just one team outside the First Division will be amongst the eight going into the quarter-final draw on Monday at noon.

All six matches in midweek went according to plan with two-time defending champions Boulevard among those advancing.

Also getting through in a busy week of rescheduled games were Vasco, Devonshire Colts, Dandy Town, Devonshire Cougars and North Village.

Wolves, the only Second Division survivors, and Southampton Rangers booked their places a month ago with victories over Hamilton Parish and Paget.

There will be plenty of intrigue in the draw with four close ties likely to result, especially considering Wolves' success in the cup last season when they reached the final for the first time before losing to Boulevard.

On the way they beat Vasco in a quarter-final replay and then Hotels in the semi-final.

Wolves, currently top of the Second Division standings, look certain to be a First Division team next season -- and on February 15 they will get a foretaste of what next season could hold when they are matched with a team from the top league.

Vasco and Village, meanwhile, will not relish a meeting against a Second Division team as both went out at the quarter-finals stage a year ago to teams from that level. Vasco were beaten 2-1 by Wolves in their replay while Hotels beat Village 2-0, also in a replay.

In the quarter-finals last season four of the eight teams were from the Second Division.

Recent performances would make Boulevard, Vasco and Dandy Town the favourites for the premier knockout cup.

There have been just three different winners in the last seven finals...Boulevard winning in 1991, '93, '96 and '97, PHC in '92 and Vasco in '94 and '95.

North Village's Jamel Smith and Lamaul Crofton of Somerset Trojans have been included in the All-Stars match tomorrow at Somerset because of injuries.

Smith will replace John Barry Nusum in the East squad and Crofton comes in for Ricky Mallory in the West squad.

The main game starts at 4.00, following the youth match at noon and the women's at 2.00.