It's official: Southampton's reign as First Division leaders has ended less than 24 hours after they moved to the top.

And, ironically, PHC, the team Rangers beat 1-0 on Sunday, now stand as the new leaders by virtue of superior goal difference over their neighbours, as well as Dandy Town. All three sides have 13 points from seven league matches.

In a startling turnaround, Bermuda Football Association (BFA) have awarded PHC three points from their October 8 match against St. George's, a game in which the Warwick club used an illegal fourth substitute.

The initial ruling handed down by the BFA annulled the match -- won 4-0 by the Zebras -- and stripped PHC of both points and goals. But PHC appealed and were supported by the BFA's appeals committee.

Fingers were pointed squarely at referee Kenny Perinchief, who the committee concluded should not have allowed the fourth substitution to take place. It was also adjudged that PHC coach Jack Castle had not attempted to give his team an unfair advantage in making the substitution.

"The committee felt that it was the responsibility of the referee to control how many substitutes go on the field and that the coach of PHC, in this case, made an honest mistake and there was no attempt to deceive the match officials,'' said BFA first vice president Aldwyn Savery, reading from the report of the appeals committee yesterday.

While PHC were obviously delighted with the news, there was little response from the St. George's camp, with president Mansfield Smith noting that he had not yet been officially informed by the governing body.

The outcome made worse the East Enders bulging goals against column, but had no effect on their position as they continue to anchor the division with a mere two points from seven matches.

However, it handed PHC the lead position in the race for four Dudley Eve Trophy spots with two games remaining before mid-term.

Just three points separate the first seven teams, with Devonshire Colts and Vasco both level on 12 points, North Village alone on 11 and Boulevard having 10.