Red Devils aiming to show rivals they're four-midable
Attack! Attack! Attack! Such is the plan of action for North Village as they square off against Devonshire Colts in tomorrow's season ending FA Cup final at National Stadium (4 p.m.).
Having already claimed the Charity Cup, Dudley Eve Trophy and Friendship Trophy, Village head coach Scott Morton said that most pressure was off his side and squarely on the shoulders of Sunday's opponents.
After all it is Colts who have suffered more heartbreak than a jilted lover, having been abandoned at the finals' altar twice this season.
Losses in the Martonmere Cup and Dudley Eve, along with a late season league defeat to Dandy Town that cost them a chance at the Premier title emphasise the point.
"I feel the pressure's more on Colts because of the fact that they have been in the finals four consecutive years and haven't won it, and also having been in the position of losing it nine times,'' said Morton, who has proven to be a more than adequate replacement for Kenny Thompson in his first season at the helm.
"So I think the pressure's really on them to get that jinx off their back.
"We'll just come out and look to play our normal game, our normal style of all out attack. This is a one shot deal, so I'm not going to hold any punches, we don't have anything to lose, even though we are defending champions.'' However, despite not being in such a desperate situation, Morton noted how his men were eager to claim a fourth chunk of silverware and restate their case as the Island's dominant outfit.
A 4-2 bashing of newly crowned league champions Dandy Town last week in the Friendship did much to silence the naysayers as to the championship pedigree of the Red Devils, and another triumph tomorrow would add more credence to their claim to be the best Bermuda has to offer.
"Since not crowning off the season with the league title, as we thought we should have, we're trying to get the rest of the silverware and the mood is very upbeat,'' continued Morton. "The guys can't wait, especially knowing how we've dominated Colts throughout the year and traditionally.
"Playing at National Stadium is always an advantage to us, because of the type of style that we play and the speed that we have in all areas of our team, especially the frontline, all of which makes it ideal.
"Because of the smooth surface technical skills have to be spot on and that's something we highlight a lot in our training. So we're looking forward to the final and being able to dominate Colts on the big pitch, which we have done previously at White Hill.'' Indeed, Village did run away 5-2 victors during an earlier encounter at White Hill Field, and likewise dominated their rivals in winning the Dudley Eve over two legs.
Village going for glory Colts, responded with an emphatic victory at Village's home field.
A key factor in each of Village's successful forays has been that of Kevin Jennings, the livewire forward who can cause coaches nightmares when developing game plans.
Morton will be looking for the roving attacker to once again provide the goods for victory, although he was keen to point out how nothing short of a team effort was required.
"Like I've told people, despite perhaps getting a bit carried away emotionally at times, Kevin's got one of the biggest hearts for winning around, and I say that every time we get into matches and I think people take it the wrong way sometimes.
"But, not putting all the onus on him, I expect everybody to perform well, because if Kevin's not in the game then I expect the others to do their jobs, whether defensively, offensively, midfield or whatever.'' Glory hunter: North Village's Kevin Jennings will hoping to celebrate like this in tomorrow's final.