North Village showed their determination to retain the Premier Division league title with a 6-2 hammering of relegation-threatened Somerset Eagles on Sunday. But coach Scott Morton isn't about to count `his chickens before they hatch'.

Insisting it's still far too early to crack open the champagne, Morton has warned his troops about complacency.

Village moved five points clear of closest rivals Devonshire Cougars to close in on their second successive league championship.

However, a wary Morton believes the line between success and failure remains thin, and that the final outcome of tonight's make-up contest between Cougars and bottom club PHC Zebras, could go a long way towards determining the championship.

Village currently have 25 points but Cougars have a game in hand and can make things interesting by clawing within two points with a win over Zebras. However, PHC showed their fighting qualities on Sunday with a 3-0 thumping of Boulevard.

The defending champions have only two matches left to play - against Zebras and cross-town rivals Dandy Town, who have quickly regained their sting.

Cougars meet Boulevard on Friday night at BAA Field before closing out their season against Somerset Trojans - another team threatened by relegation - on March 2.

In addition to clinching a first league title in 24 years last season, Village capped a remarkable campaign by claiming the FA Cup.

"Everybody is remaining calm. There isn't any pre-victory celebrations and I don't see any cockiness amongst any of my players yet," said Morton yesterday.

"We still have two very tough matches to play, but basically if PHC take care of Cougars and then we beat Zebras on Sunday then it's all over. Nobody will be "I was extremely pleased to see us convert our chances. In the past we have managed to create those same chances but we may have only converted one or two," noted Morton.

"Eagles deserved to win the game when they beat us 4-2 (Friendship Trophy). They outplayed us and deserved to win. But yesterday we returned the favour."