It isn’t only in the Premier Division where results have been difficult to predict this season.

The same thing is happening in the First Division where four teams are pushing hard to challenge Boulevard and Devonshire Colts for the two promotion spots. BAA have been surging up the First Division tables in a similar fashion to Dandy Town in the Premier Division and now find themselves in the thick of the promotion race, winning seven games on the trot after picking up just a single point from their opening five games.

Last weekend’s 5-1 win over Devonshire Colts — Colts’ first defeat in the league — was just as shocking as the 7-1 hammering of Wolves earlier this month. Those wins have been the highlight of BAA’s season so far, while losses to Ireland Rangers and Corona League side Butterfield and Vallis in the FA Cup represent the lows, though things have clearly changed for the better since their 2-0 win over Somerset Eagles in late November.

And despite losing some players back to college overseas, BAA have carried on the momentum to announce themselves as serious promotion contenders. They are also the joint highest scorers, with 38 goals, two more than Boulevard.

BAA slipped from third to fourth in the standings in midweek when Somerset Eagles, coach Kenny Thompson’s former team, beat Young Men’s Social Club in their make-up game to climb up above them. That match was postponed back in October and now the two teams will play again on Sunday in their corresponding fixture at Bernard Park.

Victory for Eagles and BAA, who play Paget at Southampton Oval, will keep the pressure on the top two. Presently there is a four point gap between Colts and Eagles with BAA a further point back. X-Roads and Wolves are still in the equation, however. Wolves have a game in hand against Social Club.

X-Roads can throw the promotion race wide open by beating the leaders Boulevard at Garrison Field, but defeat would all but eliminate them as contenders, having just lost to Eagles in their last outing. X-Roads handed Boulevard their first defeat back in October and they meet again with Boulevard back in first place.