With almost the blink of an eye St.David?s Warriors have gone from promotion pretenders to serious contenders.

After getting their season off to a slow start, a recent win streak has elevated the Islanders into the thick of the First Division promotion race.

Warriors currently trail second-placed Ireland Rangers by just three points and league leaders Devonshire Colts by six.

St.David?s and Rangers are poised to do battle at Lords on Sunday in a match that will have a strong bearing on the promotion chase.

The East Enders are again being coached by striker Otis Minors, who continues to lead from the front.

Minors has so far bagged a total of 11 goals in all league and cup competitions.

?We always tend to start the season off slow,? said Minors, who previously enjoyed a two-year stint at Premier Division Boulevard.

?It seems to take us a while before we finally kick in but I think the guys now realise that they can make a serious go at promotion and they are now putting in the necessary work.

?The players are committing themselves and I honestly feel we do have what it takes to get the job done ? although I also feel we will have to step it up a notch in order to reach the next level. But our players are taking it one game at a time and are prepared to chip away because promotion is there for the taking.?

Although traditionally Islanders have seemed to place more emphasis on cricket at Lords, it?s now beginning to appear as though the close-knit East End community have finally had a change of heart.

?I think football is now being more recognised in St.David?s than before,? Minors noted. ?I think the community has taken a different approach and are now also thinking more about football rather than solely cricket.?

And the turnaround has received a ringing endorsement from the coach.

?I think that?s the way to go,? added Minors. ?Kids today are more involved in both sports and when you have a club that is also involved in both sports then it?s important to place emphasis on both.?

Now in with a realistic chance of earning promotion to top flight football for the first time in many years, St. David?s are also within 90 minutes of qualifying for the First Division Shield final.

They take on fellow promotion rivals Colts in the competition?s semi-final on February 2.

Summarising the season thus far, Minors said he was ?pleased? with the work ethic of his players.

?So far it?s been a good season and I?m really pleased with the guys,? the coach said. ?They have made a good turnaround from last season when we finished second last in the table. It?s been a dramatic turnaround for us in only my second year as coach and it feels really good to be in this position.

?Now I just hope my players have what it takes to get across this last hurdle and it?s important that they continue to put the required work in because it?s only what you put in during the week that makes you successful on the weekend.

?If you don?t work, then you won?t get paid.?