Ralph Bean Jr, the North Village coach, believes that tomorrow’s match against Premier Division title rivals Devonshire Cougars at the Devonshire Recreation Club is critical for both teams.

Bean admits that each remaining match of the season resembles a cup final for those sides still involved in the title race.

“I honestly feel that the game is equally important for both teams,” Bean said. “As a matter of fact, every game from now until the end of the season is critical for every team in the league.

“The race is tight at both ends, whether it be for the league title or survival in the top-flight.”

Village are third in the standings three points behind leaders Dandy Town, who take on second place Somerset Trojans at St John’s Field on Sunday. Bean does not foresee any of the four title chasers running away with the title with five games remaining and predicts the race will go down to the wire.

“There aren’t one or two teams that have been hauling in the points week in, week out,” said Bean whose side lost to Cougars 2-0 in the league earlier in the season.

“I don’t see any team running away with things given the tightness of the standings.

“The fact that you have to play teams each week that need results for different reasons will prove pivotal.

“Points have been dropped and gained unexpectedly since the beginning of the season and I think that will continue, such is the need for results at the moment.”

Tomorrow’s game kicks off at 8pm.