season before the latter clinched their first league championship.

Now the Island's top team have an opportunity to achieve another first in local football...by becoming the first team in Martonmere Cup history to win three successive titles.

Two other teams, Village and Somerset, can boast having won back to back titles on two occasions -- Village in 1973-74, '74-75 and again in '78-79 and '79-80 while the Trojans accomplished the feat in '76-77 and '77-78 and again in '91-92 and '92-93.

But no team hves gone on to defend the title twice as Vasco are aiming to do.

In fact, on only two occasions -- Devonshire Colts in the first three years between 1972-73 and '74-75 and Boulevard the last three years -- have a team reached three straight finals.

Vasco can take a big step in that direction when they take on North Village in tonight's semi-final at Somerset (9.00).

For the first time in the competition the two semi-final matches are being held on separate nights, with Boulevard meeting Dandy Town in the other match on Thursday at Devonshire Rec.

Stopping Vasco will be a big incentive for Village tonight as they seek revenge for last weekend's 3-1 loss, having led 1-0 at the half.

However, the Red Devils will have to find a way to stop Vasco's rampant front line of Irving Burgess, Sammy Swan and Corey Hill. Hill started last weekend's match on the bench as Dwight Basden started, but things turned around with his introduction in the second half as Vasco netted three times in 12 minutes.

The fact that Vasco have been winning this season without the inspirational Karl Roberts says something about the depth of their squad. And even without injured full backs Derek Stapley and Earl Richardson, Vasco prevented Village from finding a way through in the second half.

League soccer takes a break this weekend, making way for the first round of the FA Cup.

A total of 11 matches will be held with double-headers at five venues, Police Field, Somerset, BAA Field, White Hill and PHC Stadium.

Somerset, joint record nine-time winners of the cup along with PHC, take on Bermuda Pest Control of the Commercial League in the 2.30 match at Somerset.

The opener sees Island Rangers playing Valley at 12.30.

Two Commercial teams will be looking to advance at Police Field at the expense of Second Division opposition as Fire Service play Second Division Hamilton at 12.30 and Mariners meet Prospect in the second match.

The same will apply at BAA Field where KPMG take on Wolves at 12.30 and Spinning Wheel clash with BAA at 2.30.

Lobster Pot play Belco in an all-Commercial match-up at White Hill Field while the second match there has Somerset Eagles playing Robin Hood.

Social Club, also past winners of the cup, play Prison Officers at PHC Stadium in the 2.30 match, with Paget meeting Exiles at 12.30.

The lone match at Wellington Oval sees St. George's All-Stars playing Forties at 12.30.