Devonshire Colts are the surprise package so far this season and sit top of the Premier Division with two wins and a draw from three away games.

Colts started their first season back in the top flight with victory at Hamilton Parish, before drawing at Somerset Trojans, the league champions, and then beating Devonshire Cougars at Devonshire Recreation Club.

In the process Colts have taken seven points and scored nine goals, with Lozendro Symonds, their captain, leading the scoring with a goal-a-game so far.

However, Ray Jones, the Colts coach, is not getting carried away with the unbeaten start and knows there are some tough games to come, starting with a first home match on Sunday at Police Field against North Village.

“The goal is still the same, survival,” Jones said. “But, obviously the earlier you get points it puts less strain on you in the second half of the season, when points are hard to come by.

“We’re happy with the start, but we’re keeping the boys focused on survival. This is our first year back in four years and, yeah, I know it all looks pretty that we’re at the top at this point, but we’re only three games in.”

Jones spoke of Colts’ strong team unity as a strong foundation to build on going forward.

Two years ago things could have fallen apart for the club, when they suffered the disappointment of missing out on promotion, when they could only draw with St George’s Colts in their last game of the season.

However, the players stayed together and gained promotion last season, replacing the other Colts who stayed up only one season.

“It was painful to be that close, technically it was one goal although it was two points,” Jones said. “If we didn’t concede we would have gone up, or if we got another goal we would have gone up. If anything it helped us to develop more character and unity.

“When you look at our crest it says sportsmanship, character and unity, so that result definitely demonstrated the character to come back the next season and get the job done.

“We only picked up two players, and didn’t lose any, so we’re working with the same team. Everybody understands everybody’s strengths, and weaknesses, and they are all pulling in the same direction.

“The youth programme is growing and that will be our feeding ground going forward.”

Colts face possibly their biggest test so far this weekend when they face Village, who have a new coach in Richard Todd, the former BFA National Academy technical director.

“Every game is going to be tough for us, we’ve been in the First Division [for] four years and we don’t take anybody for granted,” Jones said. “We just try to prepare as best we can from week to week, and try to get a positive result. So far it has worked out for us, and hopefully luck keeps going our way.”

Jones expects Somerset, Dandy Town Hornets and PHC Zebras to be among the main contenders this season. Town are only a point behind Colts and with a game in hand.

“I did take some time to look at the Dudley Eve Trophy and my pre-season pick was probably Dandy Town, with PHC pushing them to the end,” Jones said. “Although, you can never count out [Somerset] the league champions and maybe with Robin Hood to do something.

“I know Village struggled a bit last season and I haven’t seen them this season to be able to give an opinion, but obviously Village are a big club and you can never count them out.”

Boulevard are also hoping to survive in their first season back in the top division, and there have already been some unexpected results, with Boulevard beating Hamilton Parish 4-3 on Sunday.

“I think it is good for the game that it is not so predictable, the unpredictability keeps people’s interest,” Jones said.

“Hopefully we’ll see some more stalwarts and fans come out and get behind the boys in our first home game.”