NORTH Village coach Scott Morton is tipping his former team, Dandy Town, to win the Premier Division title this season.

Morton warned his players a few weeks ago that North Village could not afford to lose another match if they were to mount a serious bid for a third straight Premier title.

Two defeats followed to Southampton Rangers and Boulevard before and after the Christmas break, to leave the defending champions eight points adrift of the leaders Dandy Town who also have a game in hand.

And while Village won't concede the league until it is mathematically impossible to win it, Morton admits Village will need help from other teams.

"I haven't conceded not winning the championship but what I can add to that is it is not in our hands anymore," said Morton.

"That's a major factor that a team would not like to find themselves in, as far as waiting for an opponent to lose."

The league is shaping up to be a three-team race between Town, Boulevard and Devonshire Cougars.

"Right now it's Dandy Town. They are the most consistent team," Morton said of his pick.

"Knowing their coach and seeing them play, they are well organised and the structure and discipline they are under ? even off the field ? will go a long way. That's one of the major things that played a part in our championship runs, and I know that is the same thing that is taking place there."

It has been 20 years since a team has won three straight league titles ? that distinction going to Somerset Trojans who won the old First Division in 1981-82, '82-83 and '83-84. When this campaign started Village were tipped to make it three straight but indifferent form has produced just nine points from eight matches, despite starting the season on a high by winning the Charity and Martonmere Cups.

Town's game in hand is against Somerset Eagles, a team that recently beat them in the Friendship Trophy. In a 14-game Premier Division, victory for Town in that make-up match would put them a whopping 11 points ahead of Village. No date has been set for that rescheduled match, but assuming both Village and Town win this weekend, the gap will remain at eight points.

In case the Rams have not yet conceded defeat in the league race, they will have to beat one of the division's top teams tonight when they take on Devonshire Cougars at the Rec. Rude Girls meet Hurricanes in the 7.00 Women's League fixture.

As it stands right now third-placed Cougars are in an excellent position to win their first league crown, but a loss tonight could seriously dent those aspirations. It is an even more important match for Village.

"Obviously a result is the only thing that counts right now," said Morton.

"For us tactics go out the window, it's all about the passion within the players to win. For myself the responsibility is to be a better motivator and bring out that passion in order to win. We have to win at any cost right now."

Cougars, as their 19 goals would suggest, are the Island's most explosive team and will go into tonight's match expecting to add to Village's misery. Village, though they have never been relegated, are on the edge of the relegation zone and could slip into the bottom three if they don't get a win tonight.

"I've very disappointed in the position we are in the league," Morton admitted.

"We won two cups to start off the season, the Charity and Martonmere, so that is a positive note but our consistency has not been what we would like. At the same time, especially with the talent we have, there is no way we should be in a position like this."

Village are in the semifinals of the Friendship and the last 16 of the FA Cup so they could still end up with three or four trophies. However, not winning the league would be considered a disappointment for them.

Devonshire Colts, for so long looking like a team heading for the First Division, now have an extra spring in their step after their recent victory over Hamilton Parish took them out of the bottom two. They are level on nine points with Village but victory over their landlords, Somerset Eagles, in a bottom-of-the-table clash at White Hill on Sunday could lift them another place or two up the tables.

Eagles surprised many by surviving relegation last season and they victory over Town lets them, and the rest of the division, know that they cannot be ruled out.

Southampton Rangers have started their ascent up the tables, but the team seemingly heading for one of the relegation spots, Hamilton Parish, desperately need a New Year boost to halt their slide. This match at St. David's is a must-win situation for both teams.

Parish were recently beaten 4-1 by Devonshire Colts and 6-1 by Rangers two days later before suffering even further humiliation by going down to First Division side St. David's in the FA Cup last weekend. Khari Sharrieff, appointed as coach this season, has made an appearance on the pitch and may have to do so on a more regular basis if Parish are to pull themselves to safety.

The biggest loss for Parish, though, is the absence of goalkeeper Nigel Burgess who has returned to school abroad.

In Sunday's top match Boulevard will entertain Dandy Town at BAA Field in a top-of-the-table clash. Boulevard have climbed to second in the standings with a 5-1-2 record from eight matches and victory would lift them at the head of the pack. However, the Hornets have a proud unbeaten league record to protect.

Things will remain 'as is' in the First Division promotion race with unbeaten Somerset Trojans and PHC a comfortable 10 points ahead of third placed Ireland Rangers who are away to Paget at White Hill field.

Somerset and PHC both head to the Prospect area for matches, with the Trojans meeting Wolves at Devonshire Rec (3.00) and the Zebras being hosted by Prospect. St. David's and St. George's meet at Lords in an east end derby.