Devonshire Cougars will do well to master playing under lights because there will be plenty of it during the coming weeks for Andrew Bascome’s side.

A referee shortage has required matches to be played regularly on Friday and Saturday nights this season — and Cougars will feel the ‘brunt’ of it.

Seven of Cougars’ first seven matches will be played at night, six at home on either a Friday or Monday and the other on a Saturday against Robin Hood at Goose Gosling Field.

Cougars will play under the lights for the fourth time already this season tonight when they meet Hamilton Parish at the Rec at 9pm.

Next weekend they play Hood before two more Friday night matches against St George’s and Dandy Town and another evening game with Rangers on Monday, November 13.

After that they will play Somerset in another match scheduled for Friday night at Devonshire Rec.

Bascome understands the thinking behind the evening matches, but wants his players to just concentrate on getting the results.

“It could be to our advantage if we get good results on Fridays; that’s the advantage I see,” said Bascome, whose team beat Flanagan’s Onions 3-1 in their league season opener last week.

“I noticed it last year because my son [Drewonde] plays for Cougars, but on the other hand it gives me the opportunity to spend Sundays with my family.

“It is a concern if you lose on a Friday because you don’t know what impact it could have on the Sunday, but if we win on a Friday then the pressure is the other way. I’m sure [the Bermuda Football Association] did it because of the referee situation. I try to look at the positives and take advantage of them.”

Cougars face a Parish team that is still winless after three Dudley Eve and league matches.

Chris Caisey, the former Cougars captain, returns to meet his old team having returned to Parish in the summer.

“I just want to make sure we’re solid at the back,” Bascome said. “That’s always one of my concerns because if we can stop teams scoring then we have a higher percentage of winning.”

Wolves meet Devonshire Colts in tonight’s opening First Division match. Both teams are hoping to be in contention for promotion this season.

Wolves won their opening match against BAA Wanderers last Friday, while Colts drew with another possible promotion contender, X-Roads, last weekend.

A double-header is also scheduled for tomorrow night at Goose Gosling Field, where BAA play X-Roads at 7pm and Onions take on North Village at 9pm.

Three Premier Division matches are scheduled for Sunday, with promoted St George’s hosting west end rivals Somerset Trojans at Wellington Oval, while Hood take on Southampton Rangers at Goose Gosling Field and PHC play Dandy Town at Southampton Oval.

In the First Division, Young Men’s Social Club face St David’s at Bernard Park, Somerset Eagles welcome Paget to White Hill Field and Boulevard play Ireland Island Rangers at Police Field.

Last weekend’s First Division match between Rangers and Eagles, which was postponed after no officials showed up, has been rescheduled for October 18 at Somerset Cricket Club at 8pm.