If there?s one individual who knows a thing or two about winning league championships then it?s Dennis Brown.

Between 1982 and 1987 the former Somerset Trojans and Bermuda international skipper racked up four Premier Division titles at ?Silvercity?.

Now the 43-year-old Brown is trying to pass on the winning formula to his current bunch of players.

Trojans found themselves in unfamiliar terrain at the halfway stage of the season ? perched on top of the pile ? but dropping valuable points in back-to-back matches against Boulevard and defending league champions Devonshire Cougars has thrown a spanner in the works.

The West Enders now trail leaders North Village by two points with four matches remaining in the 2005-06 campaign.

And while Brown is satisfied with his defence, he is quick to admit that a strikeforce boasting the likes of Lamaul Crofton, Rohann Simons, Stephen Astwood, Rodre (Piper) Wilson and Quincy Aberdeen has let the team down.

?Offensively we need to do a lot better and naturally if your strikers are not scoring on a regular basis the confidence is low,? Brown said.

?But one thing that I have been telling my players is that in order to be a champion lessons such as these must be learned. And this year we have been exposed to a new type of pressure and that is challenging for league honours as opposed to trying to avoid relegation.?

Had Trojans? inspirational sweeper Sean Simmons converted a penalty against Village at Somerset Cricket Club last December the West Enders might have remained on top of the standings, even following a recent loss to Cougars.

Instead Brown?s men will have to quickly dust themselves down and get back in the hunt as the season reaches a climax with any one of four teams capable of taking home the spoils.

?You can either do two things and that?s feel sorry for yourself or dig deep,? added Brown. ?And I have always encouraged my players to believe in themselves and eventually they will get out of the rot.?

Trojans are bidding for what would be an unprecedented 10th league title and first since 1993.

?Our strategy is basically to take things one game at a time and see where we end up after that. But due to the fact we have dropped vital points we can?t dwell on the past. We just have to learn from our mistakes, move forward and try to do our best in our remaining matches.?

Trojans can effectively condemn neighbours Ireland Rangers back to the First Division when the two clubs lock horns next Wednesday night at Somerset Cricket Club.

Brown?s men then face a tough away outing against Martonmere Cup champs Dandy Town on February 5, take on Devonshire Colts at home on February 25 before closing out the campaign against Village at Bernard Park on March 5.

And for those who might think Brown has given up hope for league glory, best think again.

?After we lost to Cougars I told the players we are still in the thick of things only two points off the top,? he said. ?Everybody still has to play each other and so it?s just a matter of maintaining a positive frame of mind and making the most of our chances.?

There is only one Premier Division match slated for tomorrow, a contest involving Devonshire Colts and leaders North Village at Police Field. Victory for Village would widen their advantage at the top to four points over Cougars and five over the Trojans.

The match was brought forward from February 19 as not to clash with New England Revolution?s tour of the Island next month.

Elsewhere it will be business as usual for First Division promotion hopefuls St.David?s, Paget, Wolves and Southampton Rangers.

Joint leaders Paget are favoured over lowly Somerset Eagles at White Hill Field. However, St.David?s could find their work cut out for them against St.George?s at Wellington Oval.

St.George?s? backs are up against the wall in terms of promotion and they can ill afford any further slip-ups.

Third-placed Wolves are also facing a tricky encounter with unpredictable Prospect United at the Den.

Southampton Rangers host Hamilton Parish ? relieved by news that player Leon Raynor is in stable condition in the hospital after being involved in a road accident eight days ago ? at Southampton Oval in match that has now been moved to 3 p.m.

The scheduled match between X Roads and Social Club at Garrison Field has been postponed..