BOULEVARD and Somerset Trojans will be looking to strengthen their hold on the top two places in the Digicel Premier Division when league action resumes this weekend after a three-week break.Boulevard head the pack with a maximum nine points from three matches while the Trojans, also unbeaten, sit two points back with two wins and a draw. Both also have a game or two in hand over the teams immediately below them.

Boulevard look certain to hold on to the top spot and extend their winning streak to four matches when they meet St. David’s tomorrow night at BAA Field (8.00), but the Trojans will have to overcome a severe test if they are to remain in second place as they travel to Bernard Park to meet champions North Village.

Boulevard are the division’s highest scorers with 14 goals in three outings while their opponents, bottom-side St. David’s, have managed just two goals in five matches. The gap between the teams is huge, one team threatening to push the top teams for the league title while the other is already facing the threat of relegation back to the First Division.

What a difference a year has made for Boulevard who finished last season just one place above the relegation zone. In fact they need just one more win to match their total number of wins in the league last season when they amassed just 13 points.

They appear to be going from strength to strength and kept their scoring boots polished with a 7-0 win over Commercial outfit Tuff Dogs in the FA Cup elimination round. Shaki Crockwell and Angelo Simmons, who netted two each in that rout, will be looking to add to their season tally against St. David’s.

The Trojans should be in a confident mood going into their away match with North Village on Sunday following their 4-0 away win over struggling Dandy Town last weekend in the FA Cup. Village should be tougher to beat, especially on home turf, and after just one win in three matches they will be desperate to put together a winning streak. Both teams have players away on national duty but those players could see action on Sunday depending on how rested they are from a gruelling three matches in five days in the Digicel Cup in Barbados.

In Sunday’s two other matches third-placed PHC host Devonshire Cougars in a repeat of their November 11 Martonmere Cup final which the latter won 2-0. Both clubs have had players away on duty with the Bermuda team, with the Zebras also without coach Kyle Lightbourne at training sessions this week as he is also the Bermuda head coach.

Normally a Paget—Dandy Town would have been something of a mismatch, but last season’s First Division champions will probably be looking forward to this clash with a Town side that is trying to recover from their bruising FA Cup exit last weekend. Town, as the pundits know, are capable of playing much better than they are at present. Paget’s fear must be that they break out of that slump this weekend.

In the First Division, Ireland Rangers and Devonshire Colts should continue their push for an immediate return to the top flight with home wins on Sunday. Division leaders Ireland Rangers welcome Somerset Eagles to Malabar Field as they aim to make it six wins out of seven points while Colts seek a win over Southampton Rangers that would enable them to keep the pressure on them in second place. Rangers and Colts look promotion favourites though third-placed Wolves are determined to have a say in the matter.

Wolves, only three points out of first place, should be too good for Social Club at Devonshire Rec. while the other match sees bottom team Hamilton Parish hosting X-Roads at St. David’s. Prospect are playing in a tournament in Belgium so their scheduled match this weekend with St. George’s was brought forward and played on October 10.