Dandy Town are chasing three straight victories in the Dudley Eve, but first they will have to get past PHC in the semi-finals tomorrow at Lord’s.

PHC were the last team to win three straight Dudley Eve titles, between 1989 and 1991, though that was when the tournament was played over Christmas and New Year and with a two-leg final.

The competition replaced the Martonmere Cup in 2009-10, the final of which is traditionally held on November 11, and Town will be seeking to become the first team to win three straight titles under the Martonmere Cup format.

Town have won three of the last four Dudley Eve finals, beating North Village in 2011, Devonshire Cougars on penalties in 2013 and retaining their title with a 3-0 win over Somerset Trojans last year.

Jomar Wilkinson’s side have been the best team so far this season and will be favourites tomorrow, though the coach insists Zebras can be a threat despite their slow start in the league.

PHC did win their two group matches in this competition to win group A, beating Hamilton Parish 1-0 and Somerset 2-1 and another cup game could be timely for them.

“We definitely have the utmost respect for PHC and their ability,” Wilkinson said. “We understand this is a cup game, and maybe they haven’t been running on all cylinders yet, but they are capable of rising to the occasion and we understand and respect that.

“We’ll be taking this game very seriously and our opponents very seriously.”

Town will be missing Fabian Frankson, the midfielder, who would have served his suspension last weekend against Somerset after picking up a red card against PHC in a league game, however that match was one of two postponed.

Wilkinson though is confident the week off won’t affect his team’s momentum.

“Having not played last week we doubled up our training sessions this week and made sure we kept the boys nice and sharp and ready to go,” he said. “I don’t think it [the gap] will affect us, in fact I think it will be a plus because our legs will be well rested.”

Dandy Town’s game against PHC at 2.30pm will follow the opening contest between Robin Hood and Somerset at 12pm, with the winners travelling East again on November 11 for the final at Wellington Oval.

“I encourage everybody to come out, you have four good teams vying for a spot in the final, and I’m sure we all will be doing our utmost to make sure we book a place at that ‘table of two’,” Wilkinson said.

“We have a winning mentality at Dandy Town and so we look to make every final. This is the norm for us and we’ll give it our best.”

PHC have a proud cup tradition of their own to protect, although their recent form would suggest this will not be an easy task.

Having watched his team be well beaten by Dandy Town in the league already this season, Mark Wade, the PHC coach, is keen for his side to learn from their mistakes.

“We need to disrupt their attacking style of football,” Wade said. “We also need to minimise our own mistakes.”

It could be Town against Trojans, or maybe Robin Hood facing PHC in the last two, as Hood aim to reach their first Dudley Eve final.

“We can find things hard at times because we don’t have the biggest squad, and if one or two players could get injured it could be difficult in certain matches,” Kyle Lightbourne, the Robin Hood coach, said.

Whoever wins the opening match will be able to assess their opponents for the final, either Town or Zebras.

“We definitely can’t look past Somerset,” Lightbourne said. “It could be a repeat of the Friendship final [Hood and Town] or Somerset and PHC could make it.”

However, Lightbourne could find himself up against PHC, his former team. A dream for some, but not necessarily the Hood coach.

“Town are definitely the team to beat, but football is funny,” Lightbourne said. “When you think you have it, you find a banana peel around the corner. You can’t take sports for granted, and should never underestimate your opponents.”

Ireland Island Rangers will play St David’s in a First Division match today at Malabar Field at 3pm. The match was postponed last weekend. Victory for St David’s would move them level on points with leaders Young Men’s Social Club.