Dandy Town face a tricky trip to PHC Field tomorrow as they look to widen the gap between themselves and their title rivals at the top of the Premier Division.

The league leaders took another major stride towards a fourth title in seven seasons last weekend when they beat North Village. That result, combined with Robin Hood’s loss to PHC, enabled Town to reopen a nine-point lead at the top.

However, PHC have done what no other team has managed so far, they have already beaten Town twice this season.

After losing their first league encounter 4-0, PHC gained revenge with victories in the Dudley Eve Trophy semi-final 2-0 and the Friendship Trophy preliminary round when they beat the Hornets 3-2.

PHC are still unbeaten at home in the league this season and will be upbeat after last weekend’s win over Robin Hood.

Victory at PHC Field would put Town firmly in the driver’s seat with their remaining fixtures after that coming against the bottom six teams in the standings, including Somerset Trojans who pipped them for the title last season.

The Trojans are 13 points behind the Hornets, which leaves them closer to the relegation zone that the top of the standings.

Hood, who remain in second, are hoping to bounce back from that loss when they host Southampton Rangers, a team now in the thick of the relegation fight after three straight league losses.

The five goals Boulevard put past Rangers last weekend gives Rangers the worst defensive record in the Premier Division, having now conceded 31 goals in eleven league games.

Rangers have been missing Jason Smith, their first choice keeper, for the last four games because of a six-match ban imposed by the BFA, though “Sean Perinchief has done a tremendous job filling in,” said Gerri Saltus, the Rangers president.

Smith will miss tomorrow’s match and also the FA Cup quarter-final tie against PHC next Sunday.

Two teams moving away from the relegation zone will be looking to continue that northerly climb tomorrow. Boulevard, up to sixth after two wins and three draws in their last five league outings, head east to play bottom side Hamilton Parish who will be desperate to keep within reach of the teams immediately above them.

Only five points separate Hamilton Parish from Somerset and Devonshire Colts on 13 points. Colts face Devonshire Cougars at Police Field knowing that another loss would see them swap places with Cougars.

Tonight’s match at Somerset sees the Trojans taking on North Village, with fourth place at stake as only a points separates the two teams after Village’s loss to Town and Somerset’s 5-3 victory over Devonshire Colts.

Elsewhere tomorrow, first meets third in the First Division promotion race as Somerset Eagles travel to Wellington Oval to take on St George’s who beat them 4-1 at White Hill Field earlier this season.

Eagles possess the division’s most potent attack, scoring 34 goals in eleven matches while St George’s, four points behind joint leaders Eagles and Flanagan’s Onions, have the best defence in the division, conceding just ten goals in the league.

Onions meet Wolves at Goose Gosling Field while St David’s, who have fallen behind lately and are now fifth, meet X-Roads at Lord’s. Young Men’s Social Club, who play Devonshire Coguars, in the FA Cup quarter-finals next weekend, play bottom team Ireland Rangers at PHC Field, while Paget meet mid-table BAA tonight at Somerset Cricket Club.