PHC can do the double, says striker Russell
Antwan Russell insists PHC are capable of completing a league and cup double this season.Zebras won the Premier Division title and FA Cup during a memorable 2007-8 campaign which also saw them lift the Martonmere Cup.And striker Russell, whose team take on Devonshire Cougars in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday, has backed Zebras to add to their impressive haul of trophies in recent years.“We’re preparing for this game like any other and it will be interesting to see how the game plays out,” he said.“There’s a possibility we can do the double and we have thought about it, although we just need to focus on playing one game at a time and not getting ahead of ourselves.“We know there’s a lot of time left in the season and games are coming thick and fast, so we just need to concentrate on our task and hopefully it will work out.”Ironically, Russell was stretchered off with a knee injury in last year’s FA Cup final while playing for Somerset Eagles against this weekend’s opposition Devonshire Cougars.He rejoined PHC at the start of the season but was prevented from making his second debut for his boyhood club until November because of an eight-match suspension for committing violent conduct as an Eagles player.Although his form has been indifferent this season, Russell is still hoping to end his first season back at PHC on a high-note by winning at least one piece of silverware.“It will be very special not only for the club but for me personally to win something this season as it’s my first season back (at PHC),” he said. “To win any trophy with PHC will be special, we’ve a lot of talented players.“All the players that have played for PHC know what it means to pull on the black and white jersey, it has a lot of history and pride behind it. We will look to do it for the fans and the coaching staff.”Cougars will be striving to defend the FA Cup they won last season the first in the club’s history and Russell expects it to be an entertaining encounter.“Playing Cougars won’t be any different in terms of the games we have played against them already this season,” said Russell. “They have a good –attack and can defend fairly well, so it will come down who takes their chances. It should be an open game, so I think it will be entertaining.”Zebras will be hunting for their 11th FA Cup trophy, and have won more than any other team in Bermuda.They take on Cougars at Lords at 2.30pm.n Bermuda’s Reggie Lambe scored in Ipswich reserves’ 4-0 thrashing of Southend United reserves at Playford Road yesterday. Town’s other scorers were Jack Ainsley (2) and Ronan Murray. The match was watched by Tractor Boys manager Paul Jewell.Lambe, 19, has made four first team appearances this season. He was one of six youngsters handed contract extensions last May after scoring eight goals for Town’s reserve team last term.