overtaking Vasco for the First Division crown.

In fact, with the exception of upcoming Cup clashes, it figures to be an anti-climactic final seven weeks to the season.

Boulevard trail Vasco by five points and each team have five games left. Those make long odds to begin with but they get longer when you consider Vasco haven't lost in all of 1998 and of their remaining games, four are against teams sitting in the bottom six places.

If Boulevard are to make a move it will have to be soon.

In the next month, Vasco play Rangers, a Jekyll and Hyde team with the talent to pull off an upset; defending champion Colts, who are never easy; and North Village, who sit in third place, seven points back.

After playing Colts on Wednesday, Boulevard meet bottom-placed PHC and second-from bottom Somerset.

But Vasco finish against the Trojans and Cougars while Boulevard face the prospect of picking up points from Hotels and always-dangerous Dandy Town.

Should the teams finish with equal points, Vasco also have the advantage. They are plus-13 in goal differential while Boulevard are plus-eight.

Even the relegation battle might be over as early as tonight, depending on the 7.00 p.m. match between Hotels and Cougars. If Hotels, who currently lead their opponents by two points, win they're in the comfort zone; if Cougars win, then it presents an interesting battle over the next few weeks.

WHILE Forties were easily winning their 13th match in 14 outings in Commercial League Group B, Robin Hood and BAA Wanderers, the joint leaders in Group A, both had to come from behind to gain maximum points over the weekend.

Robin Hood fell behind to Ireland Rangers when Troy Berkeley put the home team in front in the eighth minute, before goals early in the second half through Barry Edean and Donny Smythe earned Hood a 2-1 win.

BAA Wanderers also won 2-1 but not before C.Lopes put Mariners in front in the 37th minute. Vince Chaves and Thomas Gribbon replied for Wanderers in the 72nd and 82nd minutes to keep them level on points with Hood.

Lobster Pot routed Fire Service 9-3. Andy McCulloch led their scoring with three goals while Tony Smith and Tim Brown both scored twice and Niall McArthur and Ronan Daly one apiece.

Fire Service, trailing 7-0 at the half, scored all three of their goals late in the game through Roger Dill, Theron Smith and substitute Ranay Boyles.

The match between St. George's All-Stars and Spinning Wheel produced seven goals with All-Stars coming out 4-3 winners. Cal Rayner scored twice for the home team and James Pace and Sinclair Smith one each while Des Minors and Chris Furbert (two penalties) replied for Spinning Wheel.

With the win, All-Stars moved three places off the bottom as Spinning Wheel dropped into the bottom two.

Group B leaders Forties picked up win number 13 with a 6-1 hammering of Bermuda Pest Control as Brian Fubler scored four times and Ricardo Walker twice.

Alan Johnson scored twice as Exiles beat Devonshire Lions 5-3. Johnny Semos, Craig Tyrell and Carlos Durham were the other Exiles scorers while Kevin Hodgson, Raynell Perinchief and Eugene Eversley replied for the Lions.

Belco edged Prison Officers 3-2 with Gerald Sims, Anthony Zuill and Oral Swan tallying for the winners and Calvin DeShields and Denton Leaders for Officers.

Valley and Devonshire All-Stars drew 1-1. Earl Pringle put Valley ahead in the first half and Jeff Richardson replied for All-Stars late in the second half.