The second Friendship Trophy semi-final takes place under the floodlights at the PHC Stadium, with Dandy Town Hornets and Hamilton Parish locking horns in a 9:00 pm kick-off. Both teams will be eager to secure a place in the final, but their motivations are steeped in contrasting histories with this competition.
Dandy Town Hornets, four-time winners of the Friendship Trophy, are seeking their first taste of success in this tournament since the 2002/03 season when they defeated Somerset Eagles 3-2. However, their recent history in the final has been marked by frustration, having lost their last four appearances. The most memorable of those defeats came in the 2014/15 season when they won the final 4-3 but were later declared losers after fielding an ineligible player, handing the title to Robin Hood.
Hamilton Parish, on the other hand, have only reached the Friendship Trophy final once, in the 2013/14 season, where they suffered a 4-1 defeat to Somerset Trojans. They will be hoping to make amends for that loss and reach the final for only the second time in the club's history.
These two sides played out a 2-2 draw when they met in the league on November 3rd. However, their current league positions suggest a disparity in form. Dandy Town Hornets sit in second place in the Premier Division, while Hamilton Parish occupy ninth place.
Despite the difference in league standings, cup competitions often produce unpredictable results. Both teams will be determined to seize their opportunity to reach the final, setting the stage for a captivating encounter under the lights at the PHC Stadium.
|
