Dandy Town kept alive their slim hopes of a First Division championship and all but secured a Martonmere Cup spot for next season in handing PHC a 1-0 defeat yesterday.

Top goalscorer Darron Simons, despite having a quiet game, was in the right spot at the perfect moment to give the home side the only score they needed, while increasing his season tally to 18.

Ironically the goal came during a first half dominated for the most part by PHC, playing with a strong breeze at their backs.

However, although able to dictate and pressure Town's defence on numerous occasions the visitors found goalkeeper Cymande Davis in immaculate form between the sticks, producing a string of brave saves despite playing with a knee ailment.

The 'keeper received his first test after eight minutes when PHC forward Winston Trott pounced on a partial clearance, slamming a goal bound effort from 20 yards that Davis scrambled away for a corner.

Town escaped again in the 23rd minute as Davis was this time beaten by a Sheridan Ming glance from an Ottis Steede cross, but Wylie Rudo arrived with a desperation clearance that bounded out off the crossbar.

Dana Rawlins put a header on target on the half hour only to watch as Davis again was in perfect position to collect and avert the threat.

At the other end Town's forwards were increasingly frustrated by the Zebras defence that appeared for the most part firm, in spite having been ravaged in recent weeks.

Carlos Smith worked tirelessly up front, going unrewarded, while Simons was reduced to all but spectator status.

That would all change in the 38th minute as Devarr Boyles delivered a defence-splitting pass up the middle which Simons was able to latch onto, shield off two defenders before beating Jay Smith and slotting home.

The second half contrasted the first in that Town assumed the lead role, taking advantage of favourable conditions.

Yet it was PHC who came close in the 59th minute, with the ever present Steede providing excitement with a 20 yard thunderbolt that saw Davis dive to his right and block.

Storming back moments later were Town, as midfielder Troy Lewis slammed a left-footed drive inches wide of the upright.

Simons just missed notching number two in the 84th minute, his header off a Reggie Tucker free kick slamming against the woodwork.

Fittingly it was left for Davis to close out a masterful afternoon's work with another fine save as time expired, Steede again being thwarted.

The result kept Town mathematically in the title race, although a win by Colts or anything less than that for Town in their remaining three games would eliminate them.

Town stand fourth on 25 points and can earn a maximum of 34, while Colts have 32 with three games left.

PHC, after a promising start to the season, fell to their seventh defeat and third loss in succession.

Dandy Town: C.Davis; J.Marshall, W.Rudo, L.Christopher, M.Lowe; T.Lewis (S.Tuzo 77 mins), L.Furbert, D.Boyles (K.Butterfield 60 mins), R.Tucker; D.Lewis, C.Smith.

PHC: J.Smith; E.Hunt, D.Outerbridge, D.Burgess, C.Dowling; O.Steede,B.Anderson, S.Ming, D.Rawlins; K.Mills, W.Trott (S.Astwood 58 mins).

Referee: George O'Brien.

Men of the Match: Cymande Davis (Dandy Town), Ottis Steede (PHC).

Dev. Cougars 4 St.George's 2 Devonshire Cougars officially cleared themselves from relegation danger and joined the Martonmere Cup party after holding off a game St. George's at the Den yesterday.

Two goals from Phillip Clarke and one apiece from Devon Brangman and captain Wali Salaam eventually offset single strikes from Marlon Outerbridge and Derek Wright.

The home side, with a strong wind at their backs, took the lead in the 22nd minute through Clarke, who nodded home after young goalkeeper Tarik Forster produced a weak punched clearance following a right wing corner.

Mark Mills came close to doubling the lead in the 25th minute, but was denied by the upright and 10 minutes later found Forster in better form, as he tipped Mills' goalbound drive over the bar, keeping the scoreline 1-0 at the interval.

Brangman finally managed to score Cougars' second in the 54th minute after Clarke laid the groundwork, beating two defenders and laying the ball back for Brangman to power home from close in.

Two minutes later St. George's replied through Marlon Outerbridge, who took advantage of a slip by a defender to latch onto a long ball forward by Neil Paynter and fire past Leon Place.

However, just as it appeared the East Enders might equalise, Clarke stepped up to restore the two goal margin with yet another header from a right wing cross. The goal came after the same player had moments earlier squandered an easy chance, failing to convert in front of an open net.

Derek Wright produced the best goal of the game in the 86th minute, Jerry Laws laying the ball back for the onrushing Wright to senda rasping 20-yard drive that gave Place no chance.

A minute later Laws could only hold his head in disbelief as his deft, angled lob succeeded in beating Place, camped at the near post, but bounded off the far post.

Salaam, though, put matters beyond doubt on the stroke of full-time, converting a Clarke cross.