It was a case of letting the Zebra out of the bag for defending league champions North Village on Sunday.

Managing to get only a point from their 1-1 draw with relegation-threatened PHC, leaders Village will now take the 2002/03 Premier Division title down to the wire with the eventual winner to be decided in two weeks' time on March 2.

Things are no less interesting at the other end of the table where Devonshire Colts, Somerset Trojans, Somerset Eagles and PHC are all flirting with disaster.

Presented with a golden opportunity to clinch a second successive league championship on Sunday, following Devonshire Cougars' shock 2-1 loss to Boulevard last Friday, Village failed to grasp the initiative and now must anxiously await their fate against Dandy Town against whom a single point will suffice.

Cougars, on the other hand meet Somerset Trojans knowing that in addition to having to secure maximum points they must rely on Village losing to Town. And Albert Smith's men must also fire at least five goals past their western counterparts if they are to bask in the glory of a first-ever championship.

Village coach Scott Morton explained yesterday that his players had been forewarned.

"During our pre-game talk I told my players to be prepared for both the unexpected and the unusual. That match was always going to be a matter of who had the most guts would ultimately come out with the glory," said Morton.

But despite having to put the champagne back on ice, the coach surprisingly is not too concerned with the task at hand - that of attempting to wrap things up on the final day of the season.

"It's coming right down to the wire and what I really enjoy is that it is creating a lot of excitement. Reducing the league to eight teams has made it competitive throughout in that having eight teams has done what the association (BFA) were looking for - and that's making every game competitive," noted Morton.

The coach anticipates an exciting two-match series against his former club over the next two weeks with Village also meeting Town in this Sunday's FA Cup quarter-finals at St. John's Field.

Though the defending champions only require a single point to clinch the league title, coach Morton has his sights on all the spoils for what would be a second successive league and cup double.

"We are not concerned with only a single point. We definitely want all three points and maximum goals."

Full of admiration for his counterpart at St. John's Field, Devarr Boyles, Morton says he has no worries about having to meet one of his closest allies and former teams.

"We basically talk every other night about football. He (Boyles) has certainly turned Town around tremendously - it's been a big improvement over there so it's not going to be an easy match. And they (Town) also know that it's not going to be an easy match."

Having to put their championship drive on hold for Sunday's equally crucial FA Cup contest, Morton also admitted yesterday that he would have preferred to have seen the league season conclude this Sunday instead of having to pick up the pieces the following weekend.

"I definitely would have preferred the league to be have been completed and then focus on the FA Cup later instead of having to take a week's break and then go back to the league," he added.

"I certainly would have preferred it the other way around."

Meanwhile, the Premier Division relegation battle could very well take on a whole new shape when Town and Devonshire Colts do battle at Devonshire Recreation Club tomorrow night.

While Town have already confirmed their Premier Division status for next season, just where Colts will reside during the next campaign remains up in the air as Ray Jones' side cling to the ropes along with Trojans and PHC.

Though Eagles picked up a crucial win over Trojans last Sunday, they too, are not not quite out of the woods and are faced with a daunting task against Boulevard in their season finale.

Colts close out their season against fellow strugglers PHC in a match that could well determine one of two teams that will make the dreaded drop.

Things remain equally intriguing among the First Division ranks.

Though leaders Hamilton Parish (30 points) currently enjoy a four-point cushion over second-placed Southampton Rangers with three matches left to play, they still haven't wrapped up the league title. Parish still have to play against Ireland Rangers, Prospect and St.George's away from home - teams all capable of springing a surprise.

Third-placed Ireland Rangers remain on 21 points but have four matches still to play while Prospect - also on 21 points - have three.