Cup giants PHC and Trojans face second round showdown
Kyle Lightbourne's PHC have been handed a mouth-watering tie against fellow cup giants Somerset Trojans in the second round of the FA Cup.
Zebras became the first team to lift the FA Cup 10 times when they toppled Dandy Town in last season's clash at the National Sports Centre and will kick-start the defence of their title at Somerset CC next month.
Trojans, who suffered relegation from the Premier Division earlier this year, have lifted the much-coveted trophy on nine occasions along with Premier Division powerhouse North Village, who will face Commercial League outfit MR Onions in the last 16 of the competition.
Zebras coach Kyle Lightbourne is fully aware Trojans would love nothing more than to knock his side out of the showpiece contest with the West Enders in the hunt for a tenth title of their own.
"We have had some good battles throughout the years against Trojans and even as a player I enjoyed facing them," said Lightbourne, whose team could feature former Trojan striker Stevie Astwood.
"These are two clubs that traditionally like playing against one another and have won a heap of FA Cup titles between us. It should be a really good game.
"It's a good draw for us. They were in the top flight last season so this will be an opportunity for them to have a go at one of the top teams.
"I'm confident we can reach the last eight as we're the champions and are looking to defend our title."
Also renewing their FA Cup rivalry will be cross-town rivals Dandy Town and Devonshire Cougars who were pulled out of the hat in yesterday's draw at Bermuda Football Association (BFA) headquarters for the third successive year.
If recent form is anything to go by it could be a long day for the St. John's Field side who have conceded seven goals in two matches against Devar Boyles' Cougars already this term.
However, Cougars defender Omar Butterfield reckons those convincing victories will not gauge the outcome of the match with both teams possessing the attacking arsenal to beat each other.
"We will have our same motto going into this match as we have all season," said Butterfield. "It's just another game and we will take it exactly like that.
"We lost to them last year, but that was then and this is now.
"We are two different teams this time around and we will see how it works out on the day.
"The results so far this year have gone in our favour but we can't look at those games.
"It will be a competitive match and I'm sure they will come to play. We know what to expect, they know what to expect, so on the day anything can happen."
Commercial League teams were handed tricky draws with Tuff Dogs, MR Onions and Robin Hood all facing top-flight opposition.
Tuff Dogs will travel to Southampton Oval to battle Southampton Rangers and Robin Hood head to Police Field to square off against Devonshire Colts.
FA Cup Challenge Cup
Second round, January 25
Somerset Trojans v PHC Zebras
Dandy Town Hornets v Devonshire Cougars
Southampton Rangers v Tuff Dogs
North Village Rams v MR Onions A
Devonshire Colts v Robin Hood
Somerset Eagles v Hamilton Parish
Prospect United v Ireland Rangers
Boulevard Blazers v BAA
Shield Competition
First round, January 11
Ireland Rangers v St. David's
Prospect United v Somerset Trojans
Somerset Eagles v X-Roads-Young Men's Social Club winner
BAA v St. George's Colts