Winning the FA Cup would accelerate Somerset Eagles' evolution into one of Bermuda's powerhouse teams, influential midfielder Keishen Bean said yesterday.

The Bermuda Hogges player has urged his team-mates to cap off an encouraging top-flight season by lifting the FA Cup trophy when Eagles lock horns with Devonshire Cougars at the National Sports Centre (NSC) on Sunday.

Eagles, who won the First Division title last term, finished sixth in the league standings and Bean believes victory in the showpiece final would set them up nicely ahead of next season.

"I do think winning the FA Cup would be a perfect end to a very good first season of top-flight football for Somerset Eagles," said Bean, who signed from North Village last summer.

"If you'd have told me Eagles would have competed so well in the league and be in the FA Cup final at the beginning of the season I'd have gladly taken it.

"We're happy with our first season, we beat all four top teams, and under the leadership of our coach Kenny Thompson we feel we will grow stronger next season."

Cougars are gunning for their first-ever FA Cup trophy and go into the game as heavy favourites, but Bean is confident Eagles can pull off a surprise victory.

"Cougars are favourites but Kenny Thompson is the best coach in the Island and an amazing tactician so mix that with the good crop of players we have and I'm confident we will win on Sunday. We're looking to win Eagles their very first big trophy."

It has been a season of change at White Hill Field for ex-national team boss Thompson who acquired around a dozen new players during the off-season.

And his godson, Bean, is adamant the good times have only just begun for the Eagles faithful and believes they can be a force to be reckoned with in the next campaign.

"Remember at the beginning of the season, Antwan Russell and myself told The Royal Gazette that the Eagles fans must be patient," he said.

"Rome wasn't built in a day, and we're confident that next season we will be forced to be taken serious by all of the other teams."

Eagles take on Cougars at the National Sports Centre at 4 p.m.

Also on Sunday at the NSC, Under-14 league champions Somerset Trojans face Devonshire Cougars Under-14s at 12 p.m., and Devonshire Cougars Under-16s take on North Village Under-16s at 2 p.m.