The last time Somerset Trojans and Dandy Town met each other in a major domestic cup final, the Houston Rockets swept the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals, Atlanta Braves clinched the World Series and San Francisco 49?s won the Super Bowl.

How things changed since then.

But if there?s one thing that has withstood the test of time, then it just might be all the hype and intensity associated with a Trojans versus Hornets cup final.

With victories over Devonshire Cougars and cup holders North Village Rams on Tuesday night at BAA Field, the two rivals set the stage for a November 11 Martonmere Cup showdown at the National Sports Centre.

Hornets egded Cougars 2-1 while Trojans ousted two-time defending champions Rams 3-1 in extra-time.

Next month?s final at the Sports Centre will be the first involving the two clubs since Hornets defeated Trojans 4-2 in the Friendship Trophy Final exactly a decade ago.

Overall, the two clubs have met each other in a cup final on four occasions, splitting the series with two wins apiece.

Hornets and Trojans were first paired together in the 1986-87 Dudley Eve in which the former won 3-2 on aggregate. Trojans avenged that loss eight years later and also handed their urban rivals a 2-0 FA Cup defeat in 1989-90 before Hornets evened the series with a 1994-95 Friendship Trophy win over their highly-decorated opposition at the Sports Centre.

At that time current Hornets forward Seion Darrell was a mere nine-year-old kid while Town?s Carlos Smith and Wolde Place and Somerset?s Lamaul Crofton are the sole surviving players from that night encounter played at the Sports Centre.

After Tuesday night?s absorbing 120 minutes of football, relieved Trojans? coach Dennis Brown declared: ?This is great for the Somerset community and it?s amazing how a few wins can bring a community together.?

Such is all the hype around Cricket Lane these days, Brown added, large gatherings of fans turn up weekly to observe the team practice.

?It?s amazing to see that amount of people coming out and I am also very pleased with the player?s commitment.

?We?ve had no less than 23 players attend each session and that is proof the guys are committed to learn and improve on their performances.?

Over the years, players from both Trojans and Hornets have swapped jerseys. Former Trojans striker Kevin (Blackman) Simmons and Anson Fubler each played integral roles in Town?s dizzying ascent from the then Bermuda Football Association Third Division to the present Premier Division in successive seasons.

Simmons, in particular, was a one-man goalscoring machine before parting Bermuda?s shores to take up residence in Israel.

Other Trojans having migrated to St.John?s Road are David (Berker) Burchall, Kenny Thompson, Brian (Pumpkin) Simons, Reggie Tucker Jr and David Lawler.

Town have also had players among their ranks journey West, players such as dead ball specialists Clarkie (Bogles) Riley, Paul (Pablo) Place, current Trojans? sweeper Sean Simmons and Ricky Tucker ? now playing in goal for Ireland Rangers.

As for next month?s cup final, Brown said: ?It should be a very interesting final for the fans to come out and witness.?

Only last month, Trojans defeated Town 2-1 at BAA Field to clinch Martonmere Cup Group B and advance to the semis of the competition for the first time since 1992.

But as Brown simply put it: ?That match doesn?t mean a thing to us now. We basically have to start from scratch and come prepared both mentally and physically to get the job done in the final.?

Then there?s home-town favourite, Rodre (Piper) Wilson.

?Piper is certainly responding to the commitment and we reaped some of the benefits of this commitment last night (Tuesday),? Brown added.

While next month?s cup showdown against Town is still some four weeks away, Brown has wasted little time heading back to the drawing board.

And one threat that quickly comes to mind is veteran striker Carlos Smith who netted Town?s winner against Cougars.

?I have always admired Carlos because he gives Town a different dimension,? Brown noted.

?He didn?t play in the previous game and so we will have to prepare ourselves differently for Carlos who I still rate as one of the best strikers on the island. We are going to have our hands full but their hands will also be full of our strikers as well.?

One advantage Trojans might have over Town, though, is overall team depth.

?I can?t even really put in words what this depth means to us right now,?

Brown smiled.

?So far I?ve used over 23 players already. With this sort of depth you don?t have to race players back from injuries.?

Then, of course, there?s the ongoing identity issue . . . will the real Somerset Trojans please stand up?

?All those players who played for Somerset Eagles all started playing football at Somerset Cricket Club,? Brown stressed.

?All they did is come back home just I as did after coaching at Wolves for a few seasons.?

Trojans can complete an early season sweep of all urban opposition tomorrow night at Somerset Cricket Club when Premier Division and Friendship Trophy champions Devonshire Cougars venture West, having already defeated the likes Boulevard, Rams and Hornets.

Trojans thrashed Cougars 5-1 the last time the Big Cats visited Cricket Lane.