A win over favourites Dandy Town in the FA Cup semifinal on Sunday will take Somerset coach Dennis Brown into the record books as the first local coach to lead two First Division teams to the April showpiece.

Brown, who was captain of the Trojans in their last two FA Cup triumphs in 1988 and '90, is two wins away from leading the west enders to a record 10th triumph in the major knockout trophy.

Brown led First Division side Wolves into the final in 1997 when they eventually lost 3-2 in extra time to Boulevard. Reaching another final would cap an outstanding achievement for the Trojans who clinched promotion weeks ago.

"I didn't even give that a thought, in relation to getting two First Division teams to that stage (final)," said Brown, who recognises it will be a tough job beating Town at Wellington Oval on Sunday (2.30).

Brown watched Dandy Town hammer Devonshire Cougars 3-0 in a top-of-the-table clash last weekend to move into pole position in the title race and watched them again on Wednesday night against Somerset Eagles.

"Looking at Dandy Town's match on Sunday (against Cougars) we have to come prepared for a battle over 90 minutes," Brown accepts.

"They have had a tremendous season although they haven't won anything yet. I respect Devarr (Boyles) as a coach and know Dandy Town will come with a good game plan and we have to prepare this week for a battle."

Brown knows that in order to reach the final a top team would have to be overcome. They don't come any bigger than DandyTown who have been this season's most consistent team after a poor start brought early elimination from the Martonmere Cup.

"At this stage of the competition I really didn't have a preference because every match is going to be difficult. We just have to take it as it comes," said a confident Brown.

With promotion already assured, the Trojans players don't have to worry about being distracted by a cup run. And as underdogs they won't have the same expectations placed on their shoulders, even though they ? and PHC ? have won the cup a record nine times.

"The players are very, very enthused about the match," said the coach who is in his first year as coach of his home town team.

"Dandy Town are definitely the favourites, we're the underdogs. They are on top of the Premier Division so we don't have anything to lose. We can just go out there and relax."

Added the coach: "Once you get to this stage it is the team who performs on the day who will be successful. Reputation and placings in the standings will mean nothing on Sunday, but the team who comes out with a plan and the team who plays the best is going to win.

"Like I told the players early in the season, we're going to play the league and any cup matches will be a bonus for us. We got this far so it doesn't make sense getting this far and being satisfied. We're going out there to compete and see what happens on the day."

If Brown doesn't achieve that bit of history by going to a second FA Cup final as a First Division coach, he may never get the opportunity again because certainly he doesn't intend to coach the Trojans in the First Division again!

"I'm really, really happy with the response from the players, they have given me respect," he said of his return to Somerset.

"The tone of my first meeting I had with them in June set the tone by stating the fact that discipline will be one of the main criteria for players being in the team.

"They know me as a coach and they wouldn't be allowed to get away with anything."

The 2003-04 season promises to end on a brighter note for Town than when it stated last September. Now back in first place in the tables, Town are favourite to become the third team in succession to win the double, following North Village's success in the last two seasons. But first they will have to get past a team that has a proud cup record.

The Trojans are through to the last four after disposing of neighbours Somerset Eagles and then promotion partners PHC. In fact they were the first team to reach the last four, with the three other quarter-final ties on that day going into replays before Town hammered St. George's, Devonshire Colts thumped St. David's and Devonshire Cougars edged by Boulevard.

The possibility of winning their first league and FA double would be a huge achievement for Town. They have not won the FA Cup since the 1986-87 season, despite reaching four finals since them.

The action will start at 12.30 with the women's FA Cup semifinal between Rude Girls and Dandy Stars. Royals are the defending champions following their 3-0 victory over PHC last year. The two teams will meet in the second semifinal.