Quarter-final draw throws up intriguing fixtures
PHC will play Devonshire Cougars and rivals Somerset Trojans and Somerset Eagles will meet in two interesting FA Cup quarter-final matches next weekend.Yesterday’s draw at the Bermuda Football Association office put the top two teams in the Premier Division, Zebras and Cougars, against each other in next weekend’s top match. PHC captain Cecoy Robinson was at the draw and acknowledged Cougars will be tough opponents at Southampton Oval.“It’s going to be a tough game for us but just like any other week we will just have to take one game at a time and put our best foot forward,” said the winger.“We’ve played pretty well this season so I don’t see why we won’t be able to play well against them again. We’re just going to go and do what we do. At Rangers (Oval) it does give us a slight advantage but it’s FA Cup and anything can happen in the FA Cup.”PHC are challenging Cougars for the league title, but missed a good chance to close the gap last weekend when they drew 3-3 with Robin Hood while Cougars drew with Dandy Town. The league and FA double is still a possibility for all three teams, however.“It definitely is still possible but we have to depend on other people to do us a favour,” Robinson conceded. “So far we’ve played pretty well, a couple of games we could have got more than we came away with but that’s football.”Town, the current holders of the FA Cup, have a possible away tie with Wolves to look forward to, but first the champions must negotiate a tricky replay this weekend against Flanagan’s Onions at Goose Gosling Field. Dandy Town president Wayne Campbell was at yesterday’s draw but warns his players not to look any further than this weekend’s replay with Onions.“We have to get through the game on Sunday first, so to be very honest it doesn’t make sense broadcasting about Wolves unless we get through the game on Sunday,” said Campbell, a former player himself.“They know the draw is today but we can’t overlook Sunday’s game and we have to prepare for that first. You can see how Onions played during the season that they are not an easy team to beat because they don’t stop running. They do have people capable of winning games for them and as you can see during the course of the season they have given some teams who are established in the Premier Division a hard time.”The west end will gear up for an interesting derby match between the Trojans and Eagles at Somerset Cricket Club, with Eagles, following a bye in the last round, the only First Division team remaining in the draw.The remaining match will see Robin Hood playing the winners of this weekend’s replay between Southampton Rangers and St. George’s.Quarter-final drawFeb 15: Wolves v Dandy Town or Flanagan’s Onions, Devonshire Rec.Feb 16: Robin Hood v Southampton Rangers or St. George’s, Goose Gosling Field.Feb 17: Somerset Trojans v Somerset Eagles, Somerset CC; PHC v Dev. Cougars, Southampton Oval.nThe draw for the Masters KO Cup semi-finals on March 16 was also made yesterday. Somerset Extros will meet North Village Rams and St. George’s Stallions will play Southampton Rangers in a double-header at Bernard Park starting at 1.00 and 3.00.