MR Onions will take another bite at the championship cherry against North Village on Saturday after blowing the chance to seal the deal last week as they crashed to their first league loss.

Onions, missing several key players, succumbed to a determined Lobster Pot team for the second time in a matter of weeks, following the Commercial Cup semi-final.

The first half was largely a midfield battle, with Lobster Pot having the best scoring chance when they struck the post. The second half was a far livelier affair though, and in a matter of minutes, Eoghan O'Dwyer had had a goal harshly ruled out and had seen his penalty saved by the Pot keeper.

And then the moment that changed the game, as midfielder Rael Coen was send off having received his second yellow card for a seemingly innocuous challenge.

Pot seized the initiative and shortly afterwards took the lead when Tom Cusack kept his composure following a strong run and slotted home past the advancing keeper.

The lead was doubled when Colin James rounded the keeper and finished from close range.

Onions reduced the deficit through Matt Ashfold, which set up a rousing finale but Pot held on for the three points.

Second-placed Dandy Town Roots are now five points behind Onions and in no mood to give up just yet as they avenged their Commercial Cup ousting by Tuff Dogs by thrashing them 7-2.

Roots, who had started with only 10 men were 3-0 up inside the first 15 minutes thanks to a brace by Darron Simons and one from Michael Wells. Dogs' Robbie Almedia pulled one back midway through the half, but the Roots were not finished their first half onslaught as Simons score another two goals to leave the score 5-1 at the half. Roots increased their lead through strikes by Wells and Diallo Sherrieff while Dogs got a late consolation goal from Aaron Brown.

Key West Rangers sub Wayne Augustus scored a second-half goal to sink Robin Hood while North Village Rams could only manage a 1-1 draw with relegation-bound Somerset Extros. And Valley did their cause some good with a 3-1 victory over BAA.

In Commercial B Group One leaders PHC walloped Somerset Bridge 7-2 with two goals from Sheridan Ming and tallies from Alale Furbert, Tyril Simmons, Robert Bean, Edwin Bean and Darren Francis. But St. George's All-Stars are still in the hunt for a play-off spot and beat Boulevard 4-0 with goals from Stevie Dickerson, Lionel Cann, Carlos Greaves and an own goal from Reeve Young.

Vasco beat Hamilton Parish 6-2 in a game played with no official ref. Vasco led at the half 3-1 with two goals from Ian Thompson and one from Kennedy Wainwright. In the second half Thompson completed his hat-trick while Stephan Tuleman weighed in with two.

Prospect/Fire made sure of their championship play-off spot by winning Group Two with a 3-2 win over Wolves. It came courtesy of a last-minute goal from Justin Robinson, his second, after Troy Burrows had started the scoring on the half-hour mark. Sean Smith and Horris Landy were on target for Wolves.

Second-placed Devonshire Lions turned up short-handed and nearly an hour late for their game against MR Onions Real Men and ground out a 3-3 draw as the home side struggled with some poor finishing. Philip Clarke, Dwayne Bean and Shawn Showers were on target for Lions while Darren Choonucksing netted his first for the Onions this season while Andy Robinson got a brace but missed a penalty to seal the win.

Pest Control learned a valuable lesson from the previous weeks humiliating defeat to eight-man Lions as they took to the field with seven men against Devonshire Colts at Police Field.

Pest Contorl matched their opponents for the first 20 minutes and went in front, shortly after having their ranks bolstered to nine, through a Jamie Matthews strike from just inside the box. Colts players embarked on a period of infighting before regaining their composure long enough to snatch an equaliser ten minutes before the break.

Pest Control started the second half as though the teams were even and tested the Colts defence with frequent raids. Colts emptied a full bench of subs on their tiring yet determined opponents who, with the aid of a stellar performance at centre half by Johnny Lightbourne, held out for a well-earned share of the points.

¦ Please send match reports to mtaylor@royalgazette.bm