Martonmere Cup action hots up tonight at BAA Field where the round robin phase of the early season competition concludes and the final three semi-final spots will be decided.

Dandy Town, currently on a two-game losing skid, will be fighting off the ropes to keep their slim cup hopes alive when they take to the field against Devonshire Colts in the night's opening contest.

It is also a do-or-die situation for current champions Devonshire Cougars who meet last season's finalists North Village in the feature match at 9.00.

Though Group B leaders Colts may have the inside track against Town against wom they need just a point to take themselves and Somerset into the semi-finals, that will not be a foregone conclusion.

Town have shown plenty of fighting spirit already this season. They came from behind to win their opening league match against PHC 3-2 and then two days later with only ten men almost battled back from two goals down against the Trojans, eventually losing 3-2.

Colts can't afford to take them lightly in tonight's opening encounter.

Like PHC, the Trojans have already completed their round robin matches. However, unlike Zebras, their hopes of advancing are no longer in their own hands as they will anxiously await the outcome of the Colts-Town clash.

A Town victory would leave the two qualifiers to be determined on goal average as all three teams would have three points. And if Town win by one goal it would leave all the teams with an identical goal difference.

After two indifferent performances in the league, Village will be hoping for a better result tonight in what will be a replay of last year's final which Cougars won.

But just as with Colts, a draw would be sufficient to see Village advance to the semi-finals which are scheduled for October 29 at Devonshire Rec.Group A

P W D L F A Pts

*PHC 2 1 1 0 5 2 4

North Village 1 0 1 0 1 1 1

Dev.Cougars 1 0 0 1 1 4 0