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Jennings relishing two bites of cherry

Up for the cup: Jennings will play for B&V United and coach Southampton Rangers in the first round of the FA Cup this weekend

Keith Jennings, a former FA Cup winner, will get two chances to advance to the competition’s quarter-finals this weekend.

Jennings will wear two hats, one as a player with Butterfield & Vallis United — the only Corona League representative in the first round of the competition — on Saturday night against Robin Hood, and the other the next day when he coaches Southampton Rangers against Flanagan’s Onions.

Jennings was part of the North Village team that won back-to-back FA Cup titles a decade ago and both his teams will be hoping that some of that success rubs off.

“It’s just another game for me, I don’t look at it any differently,” said the former Bermuda forward.

“I just go out there to enjoy it and give my son, who is 12, something to watch.”

Jennings expects many of his Rangers players to attend Saturday’s match at Goose Gosling Field.

“I’ll have a very busy weekend, put it that way,” Jennings said. “I’ll have two chances to go through and my focus is with both teams.”

Jennings scored the opening goal as B&V beat First Division Somerset Eagles 2-1 in the preliminary round.

It was the second time they had claimed a First Division scalp in the competition, having beaten BAA Wanderers last season.

With the likes of Jennings, Leroy Stevens, Dennis and Tokia Russell and Lashun Dill they have plenty of experience, although fitness could be a factor.

“Legs only last so long,” said the 38-year-old. “The game is played with 70 per cent of the brain and 30 per cent legs, so the brain can help make the work easier.”

Jennings’s Rangers side will be keen to bounce back from their 2-0 loss away to Devonshire Cougars in the Premier Division on Monday night.

“I haven’t seen Onions play in a little while so I don’t know what they’re coming with,” he said.

“That’s really not my focus, I mainly worry about my team going out there and doing the right things. They just have to dig a little deeper.”

Hood should be full of confidence after upsetting Dandy Town Hornets in the league last weekend where another Russell, Antwan, scored a penalty five minutes into stoppage time.

He will come up against his brother Tokia and cousin Dennis at Goose Gosling Field and Armel Thomas, the B&V coach, hopes there is some banter between the Russell’s leading up to the match.

“I hope the brother and cousin can get into Antwan’s head,” Thomas joked. “I hope it is a battle of the Russells.”

B&V suffered their first defeat of the season last weekend against league leaders North Village Rams, with Ralph Bean scoring the game’s only goal. However, the cup provides a different type of motivation.

“We’re coming out to play Hood who are one of the fittest teams in the league,” said Thomas.

There will be at least one side from outside the top flight in the next round, with Young Men’s Social Club and St David’s Warriors meeting in an all-First Division tie at PHC Field on Sunday. Also at PHC Field, PHC Zebras will take on BAA.

There is also a double-header at Police Field, where Boulevard play Somerset Trojans and Devonshire Colts meet Hamilton Parish.

Town host Village at St John’s Field, and on Monday Devonshire Cougars take on St George’s at Devonshire Recreation Club at 8pm.