season, Vasco can tonight temporarily grab hold of the First Division lead with a victory over last-place Hamilton Parish at BAA field at 9 o'clock.

The opening 7 o'clock fixtures will feature the women's Konica Cup final between Rude Girls and PHC Teasers.

Vasco enter the game in fourth place with nine points but they are just one point behind Dandy Town, Wolves and Southampton Rangers who each have 10 in what is a close title race.

Pleased that his team have reeled in the leaders to offer a spirited challenge to the league race once again, Vasco coach John Rebello isn't surprised that they have fought back to become challengers. But he appears to be concerned about keeping the momentum.

"I'm not surprised really. Our coaching staff have talked about the slow start, we think that the players have now come to terms that last year was last year and that the opposition are not going to roll over and play dead against us. If anything we have to play harder and prove that we can do it again,'' said Rebello.

"As much as we had talked about it going into the season the players simply had to experience it for themselves, and now they have to go out there and prove all over again that they can be better than the rest. It's good to see that we have started to pick it up.'' Vasco enter tonight's clash on a high after having decisively beaten North Village 3-1 at Bernard Park on Sunday while Parish slumped to a 2-0 loss against Boulevard.

Could it be that Sinclair Gibbons is the answers to Vasco's goal scoring dilemma? He hammered a hat trick against Parish and may just be the person capable of filling some of their needs in the attack.

Vasco are heavily favoured to take maximum points from Parish.

Dandy Town are expected to maintain their push tomorrow at the expense of the Trojans who they entertain at St. John's field.

Town have come off two good victories, one in the Martonmere Cup final over Devonshire Colts and the other in last Sunday's 2-1 triumph in a league match against Colts which they should have won by an even more convincing margin.

Southampton Rangers are at home to Boulevard in a match-up that should produce a close result. Rangers had a good 3-1 win over Wolves in Tuesday night's rainy Friendship Trophy opener and are slight favourites.

Wolves' shaky defence, minus two efficient centre-backs, will be tested once again when they take on North Village at Bernard Park in a contest that Village should win.