SUNDAY'S top of the Premier Division table clash against leaders Dandy Town has come at the right time, according to Devonshire Cougars' coach Andrew Bascome.

He is by no means predicting a victory but the coach strongly believes that his team gained a lot of experience and momentum from the Champions Cup at Christmas and have entered the New Year invigorated.

"It's going to be a good match, I am definitely looking forward to it. I think the game has come at a right time for us, the team has really developed since the Christmas holiday tournament," said Bascome.

In the match-up at Devonshire Rec. Town will be aiming to hold on to first place, going into the fixture on 19 points while Cougars lie second on 16.

Since Town have the better goal average, a Cougars victory would still see the former holding down first although the teams will both be on 19 points.

While Town enter the contest slight favourites, coach Bascome feels that his team still remain with a good chance winning after coming off a victory against PHC last Sunday which has given them a tremendous boost.

"I was very encouraged because we got three points from PHC in the first half of the season and I knew that playing them at that little field at Southampton Oval was going to be a problem in itself," he said after the 2-1 triumph.

"I was looking to come away with at least a draw, but to come away with maximum points showed a lot of character, especially to come from behind like we did. That definitely does boost my confidence as a coach, playing against a team which we have found hard to beat. In two games they (Cougars) have proven to themselves that they can come from behind."

Bascome added: "I think we grew a little over the holiday and we made it to the final of the Champions Cup and that was a lesson in itself. I think they have grown from strength to strength in terms of character, of course the level of play can be judged differently. But in terms of character of individuals I can see it has grown and I am not disappointed.

"On Sunday we played away from home and we managed to beat PHC without making a substitute ? those little signs have shown me they have started to develop inwardly and that's encouraging to me."

Top goalscorer Raymond Beach netted both of the goals for Cougars, teaming up with their other outstanding forward Heys Wolfe to snatch the winner.

But overall Cougars were just mediocre and will have to improve on that performance in order to get by Town.

The league leaders will be counting on the full return to form of Khano Smith who will lead their attack with veteran Carlos Smith. The duo could cause a lot of problems to a jittery Cougars' defence.

The other top game on Sunday will see third-place North Village try to continue their climb towards the top of the ladder at the expense of PHC in a contest that could produce a close result.

Village are third in the tables on 15 points, two points ahead of fourth place PHC.

Dennis Brown's Trojans last Saturday lost to Dandy Town by a 3-2 margin, but the coach was pleased with their overall display despite the setback.

But on their improved performance they are now hoping to take maximum points from Southampton Rangers at Southampton Oval on Sunday.

"Speaking of our performance in our last fixture against Town, it's a lot better than the first half of the season where I thought we put our tails between our legs and sort of caved in, but things are looking brighter," said Brown.

"I told them after the loss to Town that I saw a big improvement and I am proud of the fact that we did come back to level at 2-2. I think we are improving and hopefully as the season continues we get better and better because it is crunch time now," he said.

The other game will see second from bottom Eagles host fifth-place Boulevard in another match-up that should produce a close result.

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