Town, Blazers play it again
square off in a replay of Sunday's FA Cup semifinal at Devonshire Rec. tonight (8.00).
Although neither were able to deliver the knockout blow, both appeared wobbled after 120 minutes of hard-hitting action at Bernard Park.
Each will have to delve into their packs of energy reserves and lace up the gloves -- boots -- again in time to answer the bell -- whistle -- with a Cup Final berth the victor's reward.
Dandy Town looked the more worse for wear at the end of the weekend encounter, however coach Mark Trott gave assurances of his men being able to rise from the ashes and give a good account of themselves.
"Mentally they'll be ready,'' said Trott yesterday, still ruing the multitude of chances his team missed in the first match. "We've had a couple of tough matches lately against strong teams and they've had to come to every match mentally ready to play.
"From a physical fitness point of view we're fit, but we've played lot of high-tension, action-packed matches in a short span.
"Fortunately we have quite a few experienced guys and they allow that (experience) to keep them in the game when they get fatigued.'' One casualty for Trott coming out of Sunday was Devarr Boyles, who aggravated an already severely strained hamstring and will not be available tonight.
Ironically it was during an earlier match against Boulevard at Devonshire where the college student originally sustained the injury.
Still the first-year coach has the luxury of calling on either George Dyer, back following an illness, or utility man Gladwin Johnson, whom Trott had high praise for in being able to adapt to various roles and do whatever was asked of him.
While it may be said that Boulevard carry most of the momentum heading into tonight's clash after controlling much of the second half and overtime periods, they too look likely to make at least one change in their line-up.
Midfielder Kevin Smith, brought home specifically for Sunday's match, received a knock and may be forced to the sidelines.
Coach Gary Mallory, like his counterpart Trott, is optimistic about his side's chances.
"Anything can happen,'' said Mallory in a post-game interview. "We thought we'd get there today, but we have another chance to do it.
"We just have to get in there, go with the flow and do what we do best.'' Their trademark over the years has been an intricate, short-passing game, but what came back to haunt them against Town was their noted lack of firepower up front.
Kenny Hill and Neil Robinson were virtually invisible throughout, with the former's major contribution a free header late in the game that crashed off the crossbar.
They fell into the all too familiar trap of watching Dwight Warren weave his way back and forth across the pitch without offering much in terms of support.
Come tonight fans will expect considerably more than what was produced previously and Trott hinted at a few new wrinkles in his game plan.
"I think we'll do a few things differently, but at the end of the day if you get the chances you have to score them,'' he said. "I look at these types of games as the biggest test for our team in terms of being able to respond to the situation in front of us.
"The players have to rise to the occasion.'' IN AND OUT -- Boulevard's midfield schemer Dwight Warren, left, will be on show again tonight while Town's Devarr Boyles could be sidelined by injury.