Devonshire Colts skipper Shannon Burgess believes his team must solve their problem with wayward shooting if they are to win the Dudley Eve Trophy.

The national team defender said a solid display at the back had been the key to Colts' 1-0 victory over Vasco on Boxing Day which clinched their place in the final.

Colts missed a string of chances late in the Vasco game, just as they did in their first Dudley Eve match, a 2-1 victory over PHC last Thursday, and Burgess felt a repeat of such profligacy in front of goal could prove costly.

"We really need to start putting in more of the goalscoring chances we are creating,'' said Burgess.

"If we keep missing chances, it could come back to haunt us some time.'' Looking back at the narrow victory against Vasco, Burgess said: "Our defending was good and we stepped up well. We were pleased about that, because we haven't played well defensively for a long time.'' And he disagreed that Vasco had been unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty in the 75th minute when Jermel Simmons appeared to bring down Irving Burgess.

"It looked to me like Jermel lunged in and played the ball and that was the referee's interpretation. And although the Vasco boys were shouting for a penalty, I think it was just outside the area.'' The first leg of the final is played on Thursday night at Somerset (kick-off 9.00 p.m.) and with the opponents due to be determined in today's clash between Vasco and PHC, Burgess was expecting a battle royal for the trophy.

"There are still three good teams in the Dudley Eve and no matter who we meet in the final we know it will be another hard game,'' said Burgess.

And he also referred to Colts' poor record in finals over recent years, a trend reversed last season when they won both the FA Cup and the Friendship Trophy.

"When it comes to reaching finals, we are probably the team of the decade, but we don't want to be remembered for just losing finals,'' said Burgess.

"We have had a few heartbreaks over the years and maybe that will make us more determined to win.''