First Division season enters the home stretch with both the championship and relegation battled far from decided.

BAA and Devonshire Cougars, last season's promoted teams, are beginning to look the more likely for the drop, after losses in their last matches kept them at the bottom of the standings. But teams like Devonshire Colts, PHC, Vasco and St. George's just above them are still not in the clear.

BAA paid dearly for fielding suspended player Meshach Wade as they lost the points in midweek after Wade had scored the winner against Devonshire Colts last weekend. However, Colts also defied the directive by the Bermuda Football Association and played Keishon Smith in that same match. The price was a $1,000 fine -- North Village were the other club after they played Kevin Jennings in an Alliance Division game -- though the clubs are appealing.

Those lost points dealt a severe blow to BAA's survival hopes as they slipped back into last place, a point behind Cougars but with a game in hand.

Tomorrow they travel to Somerset hoping to become the first team this season to beat the Trojans twice in the league. Their 2-1 win earlier in the season was the first loss for the Trojans in the league and was probably the biggest upset of the first half. Now BAA are desperate for a similiar result as another loss could leave them adrift at the bottom.

Still, results are difficult to predict this season in the top division, as second-from-bottom Cougars also face a must-win situation when they travel to St. David's to meet Boulevard.

When the teams met earlier in the season Cougars got a point in a 2-2 draw which sparked a revival as they went six matches unbeaten, one of the best streaks by any team in the division.

Cougars have been hit by injuries to strikers Philip Clarke and Clevie Campbell and their hopes of survival or reaching one of the last two finals could hinge on how quickly they are able to return. There probably were not too many complaints in the Cougars camp when their Friendship semi-final against Somerset was postponed earlier in the week.

Boulevard aren't likely to be sympathetic to Cougars' plight as they were the victims when Cougars won their first Friendship Trophy match on penalty kicks.

They will go in search of revenge and one of the key men for Boulevard could be winger Stevie Wade who is a former Cougars player. The return of Kenny Hill from a long lay-off gives Boulevard another attacking option.

Mid-table teams St. George's, Vasco and PHC are in a position to move another step nearer to safety.

St. George's, who have accumulated 15 points in each of their last two seasons which was good enough for survival, have their sights on at least matching that total.

Their 13 points from 14 matches has them in fifth place in the standings but just a single point ahead of the next three teams, Vasco, PHC and Devonshire Colts who all have a game in hand.

St. George's beat PHC 1-0 in their first meeting and with their FA Cup semi-final tie with Cougars just eight days away the East Enders will be looking for a confidence boosting victory. Top scorer Clay Smith will return after serving a one match ban.

PHC scored three goals against the Trojans last weekend and will be confident of victory which could lift them a further two places up the standings.

While most of the interest has centred about the bottom of the standings, the championship picture is slowly coming into focus, having been narrowed down to two or three teams. Leaders Dandy Town and second-placed Somerset are separated by one point with Boulevard, with a game in hand, a further two points behind.

North Village, fourth, have been too unpredictable -- especially at home -- to be considered serious contenders. In Vasco they will meet one of the strongest teams in the division which will gauge their ability to stay the championship course. Village handed Vasco their biggest loss of the season -- 3-0 at PHC Stadium -- so Vasco go to Bernard Park looking to settle a score.

The Red Devils cannot allow the four point gap between themselves and Town to get any bigger. Vasco will join them on 14 points if they win.

Town are at home to Devonshire Colts in the remaining match knowing they will have to win in order to hold onto top spot. The teams played to a 1-1 draw in their first league encounter. Colts are the draw specialists in the First Division, having drawn six of their 13 matches.

In the Second Division, leaders Southampton Rangers should wrap up the title in three season when they meet Port Royal at Frog Lane. Rangers made sure of promotion last weekend and tomorrow they need just a draw to clinch the division. They have won all 12 of their matches in the league and will be disappointed with just a point as their aim now is to win all 16 of their matches.

In the other matches Paget take on second-placed Somerset Eagles at Southampton Oval while Wolves are at home to St. David's at Devonshire Rec.

The match between Social Club and Prospect has been postponed because of the funeral of a club member.

KENNY HILL -- his return from injury will help Boulevard's late push for the league title.