Symonds and his Devonshire Colts outfit this season.

Indelible marks have been left by the pair, especially in the goal-scoring department, without which it would be hard to picture the young side having such a season where they came close to winning the league, reached the final of the Friendship Trophy and find themselves in a similar position with the FA Cup tomorrow.

The duo have combined for a total of 25 goals -- 15 for Weldon and 10 by Ray -- even overshadowing skipper Craig Smith, normally regarded as their best player.

Weldon has been lethal from anywhere within a whiff of the goal, firing his way to the top of the shots, leading by two goals over Kenny Mills of PHC, and will get a chance to improve on that on Sunday against Boulevard.

For a while though, the former Bermuda youth squad player was somewhat of a mystery, disappearing from the soccer scene, after showing great promise in the junior ranks.

"I had got a new job at the airport and just couldn't get time off to play,'' explained Weldon. "Then I was involved in the army as well so that's why I may have gotten a bit lost in the shuffle.'' Now, after being jostled between the midfield and front line and having his game suffer, Weldon appears to have finally found his niche this season, relishing in the role of striker.

Said Weldon: "Going back to striker made a big difference.

"All through the Mini-Minors and up to Juniors I played striker and scored a lot of goals...sometimes between 20 and 30 a season.

"It takes a lot of concentration in midfield where you are mainly looking to pass, while up front you have to shoot and it took some time to get that killer instinct back again.'' Meanwhile, Ray has developed a sense around goal himself, where in the past he might eschew the opportunity to have a crack.

His 10 goals are the most he has scored in a season at the senior level and he is becoming more recognised for his cannon-like shot, which can be triggered off from anywhere within the opponents' half of the field.

Several of his tallies have come from long range, rocketing home, leaving defenceless goalkeepers flailing at air.

"It is the best season I've had so far,'' said Ray, also a top-notch cricketer and hockey player. "I've been concentrating more on soccer and have devoted more time to it.

"I've improved in attacking, shooting more and have gained more confidence.

"Lorenzo has really helped me with my game and now I'm looking to shoot more, whereas before I would pass.'' Weldon said he could "lay the ball to Ray all day for him to shoot.'' "He's a fighter and hits the ball good. We find each other well and things just flow. We're never jumping on one another.'' Regarding the match at hand against Boulevard, both are optimistic about their chances of emerging victorious and lifting what would be their first FA Cup championship together.

"It would be a lot of relief I guess,'' said Ray. "I've been taking a lot of flak lately about Colts not being able to win anything.

"The feeling would be the ultimate...I've never won a cup in my career.'' A total team effort is going to be the key, according to Weldon. "It's going to take each player doing their job, allowing us to play to our strengths.''