Years ago a top four place at the halfway stage of the season meant qualification for the Dudley Eve Trophy during the Christmas period, a competition Kieshon Smith, the Hamilton Parish coach, always looks forward to.

These days the Friendship Trophy is the tournament played over Christmas, but early elimination by PHC Zebras means that Parish will not be involved over the holidays. However, they have the chance to make up for that by leading the Premier Division standings going into the festive break.

Parish have climbed to second in the table behind Devonshire Cougars and would be leaders had it not been for a shocking home defeat to bottom team Southampton Rangers recently.

Now they get another chance at the top spot when they meet defending champions Dandy Town, knowing that their opponents are now playing like a bottom two team.

“The loss to Southampton Rangers brought us back down to reality in a sense,” Nigel Burgess, the Parish goalkeeper, said. “We have to take care of business on the field and that the game is not won until it is finished.

“We cannot underestimate any opponent no matter what position they are in and that’s the stance we’re taking towards Dandy Town who haven’t had an excellent league season so far but we’re not underestimating their form of late.”

Jomar Wilkinson, the Town coach, has insisted that the league race is not over for them, and with just eight points between his side and Cougars it is shaping up to be an interesting second half of the season.

Parish have been boosted by some late transfers and also with their college players returning. Striker Shakeem Albuoy is back from college and could help boost a Parish attack that has scored just eight goals in eight games in the league.

“We expect Dandy Town to also boost their squad with college players, as we will as well,” Burgess said. “We played them last night in the PDL [1-1] so I guess the teams had a preview of each other.

“Losing to Rangers at home and losing the chance to go to the top was definitely a misstep.

“We haven’t played our best all season but we have been grinding out results and that is down to the mentality that the coach has instilled in us, to fight for one another and play to the end.”

Smith has helped transform Parish into a solid Premier Division side, leading them to the Friendship Trophy final last season and Dudley Eve qualification this term.

“The coach brings good harmony to the team, even outside training and games the team is very engaged and is very much a family community,” said Burgess, who is also the club’s secretary.

“He keeps us very grounded and we know as a team what we can realistically achieve.

“If we play the way the coach knows we can play and execute the game plan then we’re confident against any team. We should have a full team available for Sunday.”

Cougars, who are also out of the Friendship Trophy, will no doubt be looking to end the calendar year in first place as they host Somerset Trojans at Devonshire Recreation Club, while Town could move a couple of places up the table depending on other results.

Other matches pit PHC against St George’s Colts at Southampton Oval and North Village Rams at home to Robin Hood. Tonight, Flanagan’s Onions will look to continue their climb up the table when they take on bottom team Southampton Rangers at Goose Gosling Field at 9pm.

n The BFA have switched the league match between Somerset Trojans and Hood from January 2 to 4 because one of the teams is certain to reach the final of the Friendship Trophy on New Year’s Day. The two teams will meet in the semi-final on Boxing Day.