It is hard to imagine that Dandy Town Hornets, the defending Premier Division champions, will not break out of their early-season slump sooner rather than later.

Kyle Lightbourne, the Robin Hood coach, only hopes it will not happen tomorrow when his side visit St John’s Field for their first away match in the league.

Hood’s climb to third in the table is almost as surprising as Hornets’ failure to pick up a point this season, leaving them already ten points behind leaders PHC Zebras.

Lightbourne, who led Hood to promotion last season, said that it would only be a matter of time before Hornets were firing on all cylinders again, given the array of talent in their ranks.

“I think it’s just a matter of time before Town start picking up points,” Lightbourne said. “I’m hoping it’s not against us, though. We want to make it difficult for them and continue our good start to the season.

“We’re away from home and expect them to bring the game to us as they look for their first points.”

Hornets have been leaking an average of three goals a game in the league after defeats to St George’s Colts, who also gained promotion last season, PHC and Somerset Trojans.

Hood have conceded just one goal in their three matches and with Antwan Russell, a former Hornets striker, returning from non-League football in England to lead their attack, they have had a genuine threat about them.

“That’s what happens when you’re the top team, everybody is looking to knock you off your perch,” said Lightbourne, when asked about Hornets’ plight. “You have to raise your game every time you walk out on the pitch.

“We know Dandy Town have some good players. They may have been hampered by a couple of injuries but when you’re not winning it becomes a confidence thing.

“They got off to a good start in the Dudley Eve Trophy [reaching the semi-finals], but it’s their league form that has been very disappointing for them.

“I said to my guys, ‘let’s not use the break [for Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricane Gonzalo] as an excuse for not performing’.

“Win, lose or draw, I want our opponents to know that they have been in a game against us. These are the type of challenges we got promoted for.

“We may have seven points but let’s not get comfortable. All our games have been at home but away from home we need to pick up points as well.”

Bottom club Flanagan’s Onions, who have also reached the Dudley Eve Trophy semi-finals, face a tough match as they look for their first victory of the season, away to PHC. Somerset Trojans are at home to Hamilton Parish tonight at 9pm, with tomorrow’s other match pitting St George’s against North Village Rams at Wellington Oval.

On Monday night, Southampton Rangers travel to Devonshire Recreation Club to face Devonshire Cougars at 9pm, with Boulevard Blazers and Wolves, the top two First Division teams, meeting at the same venue at 7pm.

Tomorrow in the First Division, high-flying Young Men’s Social Club take on Devonshire Colts at Police Field, while Paget Lions face X-Roads at Southampton Oval and Somerset Bridge play St David’s Warriors at White Hill.