after both championship and relegation situations tightened up considerably on Monday night.

PHC, presumed dead and headed back to the Second Division after nine games without a win, picked up only their second victory of the season when they beat Devonshire Colts 2-0. It was their first win since beating Devonshire Cougars 4-2 in the season-opener last September.

That triumph means that the last three teams, Cougars, PHC and Somerset, are all tied on eight points, with PHC off the bottom because of a superior goal difference over Cougars.

However, Cougars, still with a game in hand, can continue the musical chairs act tomorrow evening when they take on Boulevard while Sunday's clash between the Zebras and Trojans could prove to be one of the most crucial of the season and could go a long way towards deciding who drops into the lower division.

There are still seven matches remaining for the First Division teams -- Cougars and Vasco play their make-up game from December 7 next Wednesday -- so there is still a long way to go.

However, the next few games will be critical for not only the bottom three but Hotels as well, as they are just five points above the relegation zone.

League champions Devonshire Colts missed a golden opportunity to join Vasco and Boulevard at the top when they were beaten by PHC.

Vasco and Boulevard, who drew 3-3 on Sunday, now lead North Village by just one point in what is developing into a close title race, though Vasco's game in hand against Cougars enables them to open a gap.

Friendship and Shield matches are scheduled for tonight at BAA Field as the last semi-final places will be determined.

Vasco, without suspended Kentoine Jennings and Meshach Wade, because of Regiment duty, take on Somerset in the 9.00 fixture with the winners joining Hotels, Boulevard and Devonshire Colts in the semi-final draw.

A new Friendship Trophy champion will be crowned in April, with North Village having already been eliminated by Devonshire Colts.

In the Shield competition St. George's, Hamilton Parish and Wolves are already through to the semi-finals and will be joined by the winners of tonight's match between Paget and St. David's. The semi-finals are scheduled for February 19 and 25.