A point behind the leaders with a game in hand! That is what could be the situation following the Premier match tomorrow night if Somerset beat leaders Boulevard at BAA Field.

Who would have thought that Boulevard would be in this position three weeks ago when the Blazers entered the second half of the season with a comfortable six-point cushion at the top.

But suddenly that lead is under threat and if Somerset Trojans can inflict another defeat on Boulevard tomorrow night they will find themselves a point out of top spot and with a game in hand. The two teams, whose Friendship semi-final was postponed earlier this week, are becoming quite familiar with each other, with this weekend's meeting being the fourth between the teams in just over a month.

Boulevard have had the better of those exchanges, but the tide is changing as the Trojans showed with their win over Boulevard in the Dudley Eve semi-final on their way to winning the trophy. Since then Boulevard have been in something of a slump, losing to Devonshire Cougars when the second half of the league campaign started and then only managing a draw with lowly Paget which allowed the likes of Somerset, North Village and Devonshire Cougars to close the gap in what has suddenly become a four-team title race. Only six points separate Boulevard from Cougars in fourth, with the latter having a game in hand (against the Trojans).

Boulevard have been missing Stanton Lewis in defence through injury and now will have to cope without midfielder Melchisedec Gibbons who was banned for a year for spitting at an official in a match over the holidays. The Blazers were well below par in the Paget match and coach John Rebello did not mince his words as he questioned the players' commitment and desire.

He accused players of "skanking in training", telling The Royal Gazette this week that "the young guys are just not up to the challenge at the moment".

The next few weeks will make or break Boulevard's season. As well as the Friendship semi-final tie with the Trojans, Boulevard will also meet Somerset Eagles in the FA Cup on February 4 before league action resumes, by which time they may or may not be in first place.

This weekend's other league matches sees North Village hosting Dandy Town at Bernard Park in Sunday's top match. Town, already out of the FA Cup, have been the disappointment of the season with only two league wins out of nine. Currently nine points behind the leaders, they are all but out of the running for the title and will certainly be if second-placed Rams take maximum points from their home encounter.

Paget are not going back into the First Division without a fight and showed as much with their draw against the leaders last weekend. Devonshire Cougars, at home, will be another tough opponent on Sunday but certainly Paget will be up for it, knowing that a victory could take them out of the bottom two.

PHC, level on eight points with Paget, will be hoping for a badly-needed win when they host bottom team St. David's at Southampton Oval. St. David's have still not won a match in the league but have managed some close results without getting a break or two. Unfortunately for them every match they fail to win only takes them closer to relegation. Presently they are six points adrift of PHC and Paget.

The battle for the two promotion spots got closer last weekend with Devonshire Colts' 2-0 win over leaders Ireland Rangers. Colts are now two points behind and with a game in hand while third-placed Southampton Rangers are a further four points back.

Colts meet X-Roads at Police Field while the leaders welcome bottom team Hamilton Parish to Malabar field. Southampton Rangers, whose recent home loss to St. George's badly hurt their promotion aspirations, should continue their winning ways at the expense of Social Club while St. George's are at home to Somerset Eagles and Prospect take on Wolves at Police Field in the only 3.00 fixture.