WHILE three teams continue to have a realistic shot at the Premier Division title, twice that number remain in hot pursuit of the two promotion spots from the First Division. The resumption of league action this weekend following Bermuda's two friendly matches against the New England Revolution, sees PHC still setting pace at the top of the Premier Division and looking for a first league title since 2000 when they won the league in their first season back in the top flight.

Interesting matches this weekend should see the league and relegation battles become a bit clearer as PHC travel to Police Field to meet mid-table Devonshire Colts hoping to preserve, at the very least, their three-point lead over Devonshire Cougars, the defending champions. This weekend matches in both divisions have been brought forward from March 30, which is the same date as the World Cup second leg qualifier in Cayman Islands.

The Zebras have a good opportunity to stretch their lead because second-and-third-placed Cougars and North Village battle in a must-win match at Bernard Park. With three matches remaining after Sunday, one of those teams could be trailing the leaders by six or seven points. A Zebras win and a draw in the Village-Cougars match will see PHC open the gap to five points. When Village and Cougars met in their second league fixture of the season last year, Cougars won their home match to 'steal' the title from Village who needed only a draw in that final game to be crowned as champions. Now Village have the opportunity to turn the tables by inflicting the defeat on Cougars that could all but shatter their hopes of defending their title. Presently Cougars have 20 points while Village are a point behind in third place.

Then there is a seven-point gap between Village and Devonshire Colts and Boulevard, with Dandy Town a further point back and only four ahead of the drop zone. Dandy Town, who recently saw their coach Devarr Boyles resign after another under-achieving season, suffered their lowest point of the campaign when they were beaten by bottom team, and previously winless, Ireland Rangers. That result leaves Town third-from-bottom in the tables and nervously close to the relegation trap door.

The Ireland Rangers win also gives them faint hope of avoiding the drop. A second straight league win on Sunday will see them do the unthinkable¿move off the bottom of the table for the first time this season! That achievement is in their own hands because their opponents are none other than neighbours Somerset Trojans who desperately need to win at least three of their last four matches to have any chance of surviving in the top flight. The team, whose only win in the league came against Ireland Rangers on opening day, are looking more and more like a team destined for the drop. Last month coach Dennis Brown challenged them to win four of their last six matches but the players have not responded. And they are now running out of time.

In the other match on Sunday, Dandy Town will hope to ease their own run of bad form with a home win over Boulevard at St. John's Field. Boulevard, like Devonshire Colts, need one more win to be relatively certainly of safety. One battle certain to go down to the wire is the fight for the two promotion spots. Never has a team spent the whole of the season in the bottom half of the standings and yet still be in with an outside chance at promotion as is the case with seventh-placed St. George's.

On Tuesday night they beat Southampton Rangers 2-1 to prevent their opponents from moving into first place in the First Division, while keeping their own slim promotion-hopes alive. Seven teams in with a realistic shot at promotion is unheard of at this stage of the season. St. George's trail the leaders St. David's by seven points but have a game in hand over five of the teams above them. And with a game against bottom side BAA on Sunday, the east enders could close in on one or two of the teams even though they probably won't improve on their seven placing. Their goal difference is also the worst of the top seven teams.

X-Roads, three points ahead of St. George's and leaders of the division for a brief period just recently, face a tricky away match with Somerset Eagles at White Hill. In fact, it is a must-win encounter for both teams as Eagles are just two points ahead in fifth place, but have played a game or two more than the other teams around them. Leaders St. David's have a bye at the worst possible time, leaving any one of four teams to replace them as leaders.

Second-placed Wolves (tied with St. David's on 32 points) and Southampton Rangers (a point behind) will have the top spot in their sights when they meet in the division's top match at Southampton Oval. Any slipup will enable Hamilton Parish, tied with Rangers, to reclaim the top spot they held for much of the season. It would appear that 40 points could be good enough for teams to clinch promotion. Hamilton Parish can move three points closer to that mark with victory over second-from-bottom Paget at St. David's where no doubt the idle St. David's team will be watching and hoping for a rare Paget win. In the other match Prospect host Social Club at Police Field.