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Rams and Cougars set for FA Cup thriller

Rivals: PHC's Blenn Bean (right) attempts to tackle Dandy Town defender Kewande Latham in a 2007 clash between the two rivals. The teams, who are top of the Premier League table, clash in the FA Cup quarter finals this weekend.

Fans will be treated to two exciting ties in the FA Cup quarterfinals with a pair of all Premier Division matches that will pit the top four teams against each other.Defending champions Devonshire Cougars will welcome defending Digicel Premier Division champions North Village to Devonshire Rec., while St John’s Field will see the top two teams in the league, PHC and Dandy Town, do battle for the next round.In the other ties, the winner of Flanagan’s and Young Men’s Social Club will welcome Wolves, while Devonshire Colts will host either Somerset Trojans or Robin Hood.Only two of Cougars, Village, Town, and PHC will progress to the semi-finals.For Village skipper Sammy DeGraff, the FA Cup is another opportunity for the Rams to add to their already well-stocked trophy cabinet.“It’s good for the cup, it will be good for the fans and hopefully it lives up to the hype,” said DeGraff. “Our match against Cougars could be the tie of the round, although the other tie is also a good one.“For a lot of the lower division teams they seemed to have had a favourable draw to go through and that’s what the FA Cup is about.“Someone will get knocked out, and you want to see these types of teams in the final.“The tournament is open to anyone and the winner of these big games will be looking to win it all, and this is a trophy we haven’t won in a while and want to get our hands on so we will go looking for the result.”Village have come out on top against Cougars in their previous eight games, a statistic which could give Shaun Goater’s side the edge.DeGraff, however, is aware of the threat of the champions and will be fully prepared for the battle ahead.“Although we have got the better of them lately, it has always been a battle, they have a never-say-die mentality at their club, as does their coach, so we will have to be wary of them,” he said.“They have won it the past two years and I’m sure won’t be looking to let it go anytime soon.“It’s a cup game so regardless of the opponents it’s going to be an all or nothing game and we want to put our best foot forward.“Dates for the next round will be confirmed once the replays have been played and the quarterfinal docket is officially confirmed.Also taking place at the draw at the Bermuda Football Association (BFA) headquarters were the Master Cup semi-finals.Hamilton Parish play Devonshire Lions, while the winner of Southampton Rangers and Devonshire All-Stars Winners will lock horns against St. George’s All-Stars.