DANDY Town Hornet's nest is abuzz following last weekend's 2-1 home win against league champions North Village Rams.

Not only did Town's quest for a first Premier Division league championship in three seasons receive a tremendous boost, it also brought a recent losing streak against the Rams to a screeching halt.

Hornets and cross-town rivals Devonshire Cougars are presently tied at the top of the standings, the only remaining teams in the league yet to taste defeat so far.

"It's very encouraging at this particular point but no one has won anything yet. And if you ask me would I rather be in this position as opposed to last season, then obviosuly I'd say yes," said Town coach Devar Boyles, himself a former Hornet stalwart.

"I thought last year, particularly in the second half, we played reasonably well. We just had the insecurity to go out there and win every game in order to stand a chance of, not only survival, but to also try and win something.

"So this year the security zone is a bit wider and it has allowed for a wider margin of error as it relates to not getting results."

At Town, said Boyles, heavy emphasis are now being placed on team effort.

"What I always try to explain to my players is the three phases which is the defensive phase, the buildup phase and the attacking phase. . . what's required in each of those three phases," he said. "If they perform the basic tasks in each of those phases normally it results in a good performance."

Boyles, however, warned his players against becoming complacent.

"The great start that we've had bodes well provided the players stay humble, do what they are asked to do and basically support each other through the good moments, which are basically now, and some other moments which are going to come also," said the coach.

He added: "This year I think I've come in with a better feel for the players and thus far I am very encouraged. Our squad isn't at full strength and it probably is never going to be because of one reason or the other. Every game this season we've made a minimum of two changes and so people have been able to come in and do the basic task and some of them have really excelled.

"So I don't know what will be a full-strength team for us because each game the tactics change. And due to the quality of the players we have, basically you have to use different tools (players) for different jobs."

Town, meanwhile, will renew their rivalry against jinx team, Southampton Rangers on Sunday at Southampton Oval.

But Boyles insists past results account for nothing.

"The difference now from then is the input from the coach and players and the output from the coach and the players has changed. So hence, the outcome will also be different," he said.

"We no longer dwell on what was. We only dwell on what is. So we are looking forward to this game just as we did for last Sunday's game. We are going to prepare like we normally prepare and hopefully play the way we normally play."

Meanwhile, elsewhere on Sunday, co-league leaders Devonshire Cougars find themselves facing a tricky contest against Boulevard at BAA Field. Cougars recently handed Blazers a 2-1 Martonmere Cup semifinal loss and should again be favoured to come away with the goods against their cross-town rivals.

Defending champions Rams, meanwhile, entertain Devonshire Colts at Bernard Park. Colts finally picked up their first win of the season last week against Rangers while Rams suffered their second loss of the season against Town.

In the remaining Premier Division clash, high-riding Hamilton Parish travel west to White Hill Field to take on grounded Somerset Eagles.

In First Division action, league leaders PHC Zebras and Somerset have had their long-awaited match postponed yet again. They will now play each other on December 21. Third placed Paget, meanwhile, should be heavily favoured to get past winless Wolves at Devonshire Rec.

Other matches see fourth placed Ireland Rangers taking on St.David's at Lord's and Prospect hosting St.George's at Police field.