The football season has reached a crescendo with both the Premier and First Division championships still up in the air.

With the relegation issue already settled in the top tier, all eyes are now firmly fixed on a sizzling three-horse race for local football’s most coveted jewel involving North Village, Devonshire Cougars and Boulevard.

Presently a single point separates leaders Village from third placed Boulevard with two matches remaining in the league campaign.

Leaders Village host relegated Paget at Bernard Park, Cougars meet relegated St.David’s at the Den last night while Boulevard have a tricky home fixture with Dandy Town tonight at BAA Field.

No doubt Village will be looking to improve upon their last meeting with Lions that ended in a 3-3 stalemate at White Hill Field. Obviously much has changed since that December afternoon in the West End with both teams embarking on diverging paths.

Since then Village have regained the form which has landed them three league titles in the past five seasons while a tamed Lions have been condemned to playing 12.30 football next season.

And they won’t receive any sympathy from a rampant Village team chomping at the bit at the prospect of celebrating an eighth league title.

But not if Cougars or Blazers have any say in the matter. Boulevard take on Town tonight knowing that anything short of maximum points will put a dent in their championship hopes.

After a near flawless first half of the season, a string of unfavourable results following the break have proven that Shaki Crockwell’s team is in fact mortal. Blazers surrendered the lead of the Premier Division on February 18 when they lost 2-0 to Village at Bernard Park.

However, Boulevard have had over a week to mourn the loss and regroup ahead of tonight’s match with a Hornets side with nothing else to play for this season other than pride.

Somerset Trojans, dumped from the title race last weekend, travel to Southampton Oval to take on Kyle Lightbourne’s PHC Zebras.

With promotion already clinched, the sprint to the First Division league title is on between leaders Ireland Rangers and second place Devonshire Colts. Both teams confirmed their whereabouts for next season with wins last weekend. But now their attention switches to the league championship, especially Ireland Rangers who have nothing else to play for.

The Dockyard club, who lead Colts by three-points, host mid-table St.George’s at Malabar. Colts, however, have everything to play for as they are still in with a realistic chance of winning the coveted First Division ‘double. Ray Jones’ team tackle Wolves at the Den in a match they must win to keep pace with the leaders.

Colts will also be banking on St.George’s to do them a favour by upsetting Rangers in their own back yard. Somerset Eagles and X Roads face off against each other for the second time this week. Eagles, who have come on in leaps and bounds in the new year, defeated X Roads 2-1 last Tuesday night at BAA Field.

Elsewhere, Prospect United hosts Southampton Rangers at Police in a match which sees United coach Earl Basden come up against his former club, while cellar dwellers Hamilton Parish and Social Club have been pitted together at Lords.