Village face test of their mettle at White Hill Field
North Village's league championship aspirations look set for a major test tomorrow, as the league leaders travel to the west end to face Devonshire Colts in a top-of-the-table clash.
Fresh off a shock mid-week loss to Wolves that eliminated them from the Martonmere Cup, the Red Devils find themselves having to prove that all the early success did not occur via accident.
Victory over Colts will go some way towards eliminating doubts regarding their fortitude and ability to go all the way, but it is apparent that there will be few easy pickings.
For their part, Colts are a side brimming with confidence and will in no way be in awe of their wounded, yet still powerful opponents.
Indeed, while Village were booted out, Colts found a way past defending champions Dandy Town to enter the final of the Martonmere Cup -- a textbook strike by Jermaine Belboda doing the damage -- and aim to add another victim to the list.
Rookie head coach Ray Jones may be reluctant to speak to the press, yet the results he's achieved thus far speak volumes as to the ambition and potential of the `Halloween Kids'. Led on the pitch by the steadying presence of skipper and centre-half Shannon Burgess, Colts have the stingiest defence in the Premiership, and they'll need to have everything in order against the league's best attack.
Dandy Town, losers of two in a row, should find the perfect remedy for their woes at Somerset Cricket Club when they travel to face the Trojans, who might want to give serious consideration to changing their monicker.
The west enders have lost four straight and the outlook appears bleak for gaining that first win this time around.
However, hope springs in that Somerset have managed to find the back of the net more than once against both PHC and Village, but goals are also flowing in at the other end.
A toss-up match has Southampton hosting winless Devonshire Cougars at The Oval, with the latter looking for their first points, the former their first win.
First Division action has leaders St. George's hosting Somerset Eagles, Social Club entertaining Hamilton Parish, and Paget travelling to face Prospect.
Women's play has Little Venice taking on Rude Girls, Wolves Girls welcoming PHC and Prospect hosting Royals.