Champions Boulevard seeking to end Vasco's unbeaten streak
Vasco, still unbeaten in five league and cup matches so far this season, will travel to St. David's to take on league champions Boulevard in tomorrow's top Coca Cola First Division match.
The two Martonmere Cup semi-finalists have already met this season, with Vasco pulling off a 2-0 victory in the season-opening Charity Cup earlier this month. Vasco have gone from strength to strength since then, winning both Martonmere Cup matches to reach Wednesday's semi-finals.
However, in the past couple of weeks there has also been a noticeable improvement in Boulevard's game from their first match and they should be confident of dealing Vasco their first loss of the season.
A key player for Boulevard will be winger Neil (Diamond) Robinson who is enjoying his football again after a career threatening ankle injury last season. He has been one of the reasons for Boulevard's resurgence lately.
Current form makes it difficult to predict the outcome of the five matches, each of which could go either way. At PHC Stadium, the Zebras are at home to North Village in an evenly balanced contest.
Local derbies always generate a lot of interest and the one at Somerset Cricket Club between the Trojans and Somerset Eagles should produce some drama. Both have a win and a loss from their two outings so far but present form often counts for little in derby matches.
The last time the Trojans met Eagles at Somerset the match ended prematurely after 58 minutes when the nine remaining Eagles players walked off the field in protest after Duval Binns and Frank Smith was sent off for being abusive to linesman Lawrence DeShields after the Trojans second goal which they insisted was offside.
Binns is now with the Trojans but he will miss the match because of a one-match suspension after being sent off against Southampton Rangers in the Trojans' last outing.
St. George's, with a Martonmere Cup semi-final against Vasco in midweek, travel to Frog Lane hoping to change their fortunes after having gone three games without a win.
Both teams are winless so far in the league and sit alone at the bottom of the tables with just a lone point.
In tomorrow's other match Southampton Rangers are at home to Dandy Town, hoping to follow up their recent win over the Trojans with a home win. These days with three points for a win and one for a draw, teams are reluctant to settle for a share of the spoils.
Just two Second Division matches are scheduled for tomorrow, with Paget taking on BAA at Southampton Oval and St. David's hosting Social Club at St. David's.
The BFA B licence course reaches its final stages this weekend with the candidates' final assessment assignments taking place throughout the day. The final practical session was last night.
A total of 20 candidates are on the course with coaches coming from the First Division down to Mini Minor level. The course has been taking place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for a two-week period at Devonshire Rec.
Jon Beard is the course director and he has been assisted by Danny Seymour.
They will be joined by former national coach Gary Darrell today and he will help with the grading of the final assignments.
NEIL ROBINSON -- Back to his best with Boulevard