weekend as the battle for the major trophy -- the league title -- resumes following the Christmas break.

The teams, first and second in the Coca Cola First Division, are chasing the top spot in what is promising to be a thrilling second half to the season, with the musical chairs act from the first half expected to continue.

Town have already lost one of their three trophies from last season, that being the Dudley Eve which the Trojans won at St. David's on New Year's Day.

The league title is still there to defend but Town have already recognised that will be just as difficult to retain as a host of clubs, the Trojans including, chase a title which qualifies the winners as true champions of local soccer.

Presently Somerset hold a one point lead over Town and Boulevard but the failure to get maximum points from their visit to Wellington Oval where they play St. George's tomorrow could result in yet another change at the top.

Since they have been back in the First Division, St. George's have beaten Somerset in both their meetings at Wellington Oval, the first 4-2 and the second 1-0 last season. The teams played to a scoreless draw in their season opener in October and considering the strength of their respective defences, there might not be much separating them at the end of tomorrow's 90 minutes.

With just three points separating mid-table St. George's from both the top and the bottom they know they will be moving either up or down depending on the early results in the second half.

So tight is the gap between top and bottom that every side is acutely aware of the importance of maximum points.

Town's visit to St. David's to meet third-placed Boulevard is one of those important matches. Boulevard struggled with injuries during the Dudley Eve and Town came out of the holiday tournament with injuries to two key players, captain Lloyd Christopher and Walter Musson. Still, the depth of their squad should give them at least a slight edge with the likes of Carlos Smith and top scorer Darron Simons leading their attack.

The two other matches tomorrow involve the three bottom teams. North Village, who slipped into the bottom three last night with Cougars' win over PHC, will be looking nervously over their shoulders when they take on bottom team BAA.

The match should be a lot different from the teams' meeting on the opening day of the season when the Red Devils welcomed BAA back to the First Division with an 8-0 hammering.

A lot has happened since then and most are just as surprised to see BAA still very much in with a chance of surviving the drop as they are to see Village languishig near the bottom. The way Village have been playing at home this season, BAA can make their first trip to Bernard Park confident of taking away at least a point.

A BAA victory would put them level on points with Village.

Former Village 'keeper Dwayne Adams will have a score to settle after the reception he received from his old mates back in October.

Vasco are still too close to the relegation zone for their own liking and will try to do something about that when they entertain Devonshire Colts at PHC Stadium. The first of Vasco's four losses in the league came against Colts in their first match when Keishon Smith's goal settled the issue.

Colts have lost just twice in the league, including their last match before the break which cost them a place in the Dudley Eve. They will be hoping to start the new year off on a positive note but will likely be without the injured Ellington Weldon.

The top match in the Second Division should be at St. David's where fourth-placed St. David's host second in the tables Somerset Eagles.

Leaders Southampton Rangers should continue on their unbeaten run when they take on second from bottom Hamilton Parish in the second of a double-header at Southampton Oval.

Rangers lead Eagles by two points with a game in hand and seem certain to take one of the two promotion spots, with Eagles, Social Club, St. David's and possibly Prospect battling for the second place.

In the other matches tomorrow Paget take on Port Royal at Southampton Oval and Wolves are at home to Prospect at Devonshire Rec. in another key contest.

Two matches have been postponed today, the Bantam Division match between North Village and Wolves and the Commercial Division encounter between Devonshire Cougars and Fire Services.

OUT OF ACTION -- Injured Dandy Town skipper Lloyd Christopher (right) will likely miss his side's match at St.David's tomorrow.