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Keeper Hall confident East Enders can beat the odds

St. George's goalkeeper Freddy Hall might have to repeat his Boxing Day heroics as if his side are to lift the Dudley Eve title in this evening's final against Somerset Trojans.

St. George's Colts will have it all to do when they travel to Somerset Cricket Club tonight to tackle the Trojans in the First Division Dudley Eve Cup final.

With the final being postponed from New Year's Day to tonight, much was made of the change of venue with Somerset benefiting from a home match against their East End rivals.

However, Colts' goalkeeper Freddy Hall says he isn't worried about where the match is played as long as his side are ready for the contest.

Hall's heroics in his team's Boxing Day penalty shoot-out win over Somerset Eagles ensured they were guaranteed the shortest route to the final and precious time to prepare and rest tired limbs.

And his side can take heart from their previous encounter with Trojans, a 1-0 victory at Somerset in the opening match of the Christmas tournament.

"I think the extra lay-off will actually help us more than hurt us," said Hall. "It has given us more time to prepare and work on team concepts as well as resting a few tired legs.

"We beat them the first time but we will take this game very seriously and not look back at the last result.

"Yes, we did beat them but we also know that we can improve our game.

"We are going to come out and show everyone that the first result wasn't a fluke."

A victory over their rivals will send notice to the rest of the First Division teams harbouring promotion dreams that St. George's are ready to make a sustained run at booking their place in next season's Premier League.

With the club failing to hoist any silverware in recent memory, Hall noted that with a win, the club and the community of St. George's as a whole would be excited.

"With us beating them tonight, assuming we do, it would show our team more than anyone else that we have what it takes to beat any team at any venue.

"They do have a quality team and I don't want to take anything away from them, but if we beat them at their home ground maybe they will start believing us.

"Winning the trophy is not the end of our season, our main goal is to still get promoted and play in the Premier Division next year.

"But St. George's are a club that haven't really won much in the least few years, so winning this will be good for the club and the community.

"If we play as a team and win the individual battles, we will be ok."