Dandy Town and St David’s will have revenge on their minds when they play their Friendship Trophy and First Division Shield preliminary round matches tonight at Goose Gosling Field.

Town suffered a rare defeat this season when they lost to PHC in the semi-finals of the Dudley Eve Trophy a month ago, while St David’s will be hoping to quickly pick themselves up after Sunday’s 6-0 thrashing at the hands of neighbours St George’s.

It was the first loss of the season for St David’s, who lead the First Division standings, and Neil Paynter, the St George’s team manager, expects the opposition to be on a mission to restore some pride.

“We’re pleased with the result but Sunday’s result is over, it’s a new game,” Paynter said.

The size of the St George’s victory was quite shocking, St David’s having conceded just four goals in their first six games in the league going into the match.

By half-time they were already 4-0 down and heading for their first defeat. Two second half strikes by Macai Simmons carried St George’s to their biggest win of the season.

St George’s were relegated last season, but are aiming for a quick return to the top flight.

“Our priority right now is team cohesiveness, and just bringing more togetherness and harmony within the team,” Paynter said. “If all that works out then usually the other things take care of themselves.

“I won’t deny it’s a good result, it’s good for team morale, and good for the community, but we just don’t want guys to become complacent over that result. We know it’s a derby and that St David’s will be coming at us.

“Where you place in the table is insignificant when it comes to a derby match. It’s bragging rights.”

Tonight’s main game sees Dandy Town, last season’s losing finalists, take on Zebras in the Friendship Trophy.

Dandy Town’s only blemishes this season, where they are unbeaten in the Premier Division have been in the Dudley Eve Trophy. where they lost to Devonshire Cougars in a group match, and then to PHC in the semi-final.

Jomar Wilkinson, the Dandy Town coach, admitted afterwards that “PHC did a good job on us”.

Two more preliminary round matches are scheduled for tomorrow night at Devonshire Recreation Club, where Paget will look to make it three wins on the trot against Ireland Rangers in the Shield, before Robin Hood, the Friendship Trophy holders, meet Somerset.

The teams met on Saturday night at Goose Gosling Field, with Lejuan Simmons’s hat-trick leading Hood to a 4-1 win over the league champions.

The quarter-finals will be played on December 13.