“IF we don’t lose we win.”North Village coach Dwayne (Streaker) Adams’ pre-game team talk will probably go something like that at Devonshire Rec. when they take on the Cougars in Sunday’s top-of-the-table title decider.

But that doesn’t mean that Village, scorers of 25 goals in their last six league games, will be ‘playing out the clock’ on their way to a second straight league title. It is fitting that the Premier Division title will be decided between the two teams leading in the standings, the two highest scoring teams...and on their day two of the most exciting teams in local football. The fact that this is also a derby match should add to the intensity as Cougars chase a second league title and Village a fourth league crown in seven years.

Village’s own fans always expected their team to be in the running, although they spent the first half of the season trying to climb higher than mid-table. At the halfway stage Boulevard were the team to beat, with their six-point gap earned by six wins in seven outings as their reached Christmas still unbeaten.

But things quickly changed as Cougars handed them their first league defeat in January to knock them off their stride and in the six matches since the break Boulevard have managed just five points to slip to third and out of contention for another title. Their latest loss, 3-1 to Dandy Town last weekend, was significant for Village as it now means that even if they draw with Cougars on Sunday, no other team can pip them to the title.

Cougars face a must-win situation and will have to take the game to Village, something they are quite capable of doing. If they score early then it will certainly set the stage for an entertaining game. The other matches will have little importance as the relegation issue has already been settled.

Boulevard will have to beat PHC at BAA Field and then hope Village beat Cougars in order to have any chance of finishing second on goal difference.

Somerset Trojans will be hoping to close out their league season on a winning note when they meet Dandy Town at St. John’s on Sunday and then St. David’s in a make-up match next Tuesday. Two wins will ensure them of a fourth place finish, though that represents major disappointment for the Dudley Eve champions who were in second place in early January and with their sights on then leaders Boulevard. Six points separated the teams then and six still separate them as Somerset have failed to win in their last four league outings.

St. David’s, the only team in the top division without a win, may just get it against relegation partners Paget in a bottom-of-the-table clash at St. David’s. The home team have managed just nine goals in the league but against the leakiest defence in the division, they will feel they can pull this one off.The two teams to replace them in the Premier Division have already been determined, as Ireland Rangers and Devonshire Cougars have reclaimed the spots they ‘loaned’ to Paget and St. David’s a year ago. However, the First Division title is still not settled as second-placed Colts are three points out of first place but with a game in hand. And their goal difference is only two goals inferior to that of Ireland Rangers.

Ireland Rangers are away to Somerset Bridge on Sunday while Colts travel to Southampton Oval to meet third-placed Southampton Rangers.

Social Club, who picked up their first win when they hammered Hamilton Parish 7-0 last weekend, entertain Wolves at Bernard Park while X-Roads welcome Hamilton Parish to Garrison Field and St. George’s entertain Prospect at Wellington Oval.

A fitting battle for league title