a month ago, so Devonshire Cougars should go into tomorrow's FA Cup tie with Dandy Town optimistic of knocking off another First Division team.

On paper, Town, arguably the most in-form team in the last month, and Devonshire Colts should be firm favourites over their Second Division opponents in the quarter-finals. But this is the competition where funny results have been the norm.

In the last six seasons, Second Division Devonshire Colts have reached the final before losing to Somerset, while in 1991, Robin Hood of the Commercial Division reached the semifinals before losing to PHC.

Two teams from the Second Division are in the last eight of the competition, with that division's leaders, Cougars, the better bet to reach the semifinals even though they are up against a Town team who are in the midst of their best run of the season.

Since their triumph over another Second Division side, BAA, in the first round of the FA Cup on December 19, Town are unbeaten in eight league and cup matches.

Even though they may be firm favourites, Town will probably have taken into account the fact that Cougars beat, quite convincingly too, a team (Rangers) who defeated them only a few weeks earlier.

"We're not looking at the fact that they are a Second Division team,'' said a cautious Town coach Mark Trott. "The way we're looking at it is that it's going to be a tough game.

"Just like any opponent, we expect Cougars to come prepared to battle. People must realise that they have a number of seasoned players.'' Last year, Town beat Cougars 4-0 in the same competition, but there have been some changes to the Second Division side since then.

"Last year is history. What happened then can't help us now,'' Trott added.

"I always look at the FA Cup as a competition that all the teams compete hard for. It's Bermuda's most prestigious knockout competition.

"In this competition you can't take anybody lightly. You can see in the past where Robin Hood went all the way through to the semifinals.'' The other Second Division side still left in the competition, Somerset Eagles, will have to lift their game considerably if they are to get past First Division team Devonshire Colts.

When the draw was made last month, Colts captain Ellington Weldon expressed reservations about meeting a Second Division side. Eagles have lost all of their three matches since a 5-1 FA Cup triumph over Exiles in the last round and that could serve to boost the confidence of Colts.

However, with nothing to lose, Eagles know they have less pressure than their high-riding opponents.

Tomorrow's feature match will be at St. David's where cup holders Boulevard take on First Division leaders North Village. Both teams lost on their last outings, Boulevard falling to Dandy Town last weekend and Village going down in the Friendship Trophy to a revived Vasco side in midweek.

Tomorrow's losers will have only the league to challenge, as Boulevard made an earlier exit from the Friendship Trophy.

St. George's, despite lying fifth in the league, know their best hopes of glory this season rest in the cup competitions. And their opponents tomorrow, Vasco, can have a say in how that goes as the two teams will also meet in the next round of the Friendship Trophy next month.

St. George's intend to make home advantage count for something for it is at Wellington Oval where they have been unbeaten so far. In fact, other than St.

David's in the last round of the FA Cup, no team has managed to score against St. George's there.

WAYNE CAMPBELL -- Has scored some vital goals for Dandy Town recently.

SHAWN SMITH -- The Bermuda international expect a searching examination from Town's front-runners.