Angelo Simmons, the Dandy Town striker, has played down his team’s Premier Division title chances despite sitting firmly in the ‘driving seat’ with eight games remaining.

League leaders Town further boosted their title hopes with a 3-1 win away to perennial challengers North Village at the weekend.

Town are one point above second-placed Somerset Trojans and four points ahead of Devonshire Cougars, who were held to a frustrating draw by Flanagan’s Onions at home and lie third in the table.

Simmons insisted his team felt no extra pressure despite being installed as favourites in the eyes of many and warned that it would be dangerous to relax with Trojans, the season’s surprise package, breathing down their necks.

“I can’t say that we are favourites because football is a funny game and nothing can be taken for granted,” said Simmons, who helped Town to the title in 2012. “You can be a bunch of points clear, but just when you think you’re home and dry, you drop points and other sides are back involved the fight.

“Right now, we are top; that’s all that can be said. There are a lot of games left in the season and you can only say you are genuinely in the driving seat with a few games left and a massive advantage.

“You can look at leagues around the world that have seen top sides lose point advantages bigger than ten, so we must keep focused and stick together.”

Taking advantage of their rivals slip-ups is essential to any side harbouring title ambitions, according to Simmons. He also believes the harmony and spirit within the Town dressing room has helped to propel Town. “We beat Village, who were hot on our heels, and Flanagan’s held Cougars to a draw, which opened that gap a bit farther between us and them,” Simmons said.

“You have to make the most of your chances, especially with a team like Cougars chasing you down, so these are weekends you must take advantage of as a title contender.

“We are a team and working as a unit. The team as a whole is taking one game at a time and continues to have harmony, so there is potential to achieve great things.

“Training hasn’t slowed down at all as the season goes on; the players are committed to the cause and we have a goal in sight.

“The weekend’s results helped us in the sense that we were able to get some breathing space away from those around us.”

Simmons also voiced his surprise at the lofty position of title rivals Trojans, who look like genuine contenders this season.

“Somerset is the surprise package in everyone’s eyes, when you look at how they are performing so far,” Simmons added. “We have to focus on ourselves, however, and we aren’t concerned about what any other team is doing. We have to concentrate on what we can control. They are only one point back, so it will be interesting to see how they perform in the second half of the season.

“We still have to play them as well as the rest of those teams close to us, so there is all to play for down the stretch.”

Town take on PHC at St John’s Field on Sunday.