RESULTS in last weekend's opening round of Premier Division matches have served to put added interest into this weekend's four matches in the top division.

A message has seemingly been sent out to PHC that they won't be having things their own way in the league race, after Boulevard handed the defending league champions their first loss of the early season.

In fact none of the four matches went according to expectations as Dandy Town, still smiling after a 7-3 thrashing of North Village in the Martonmere Cup, were brought back down to earth by their 3-0 home defeat to Devonshire Cougars as Cougars coach Devarr Boyles had a winning return to St. John's Field.

North Village continue to find the going tough in the early season as they failed to take maximum points off newly promoted Southampton Rangers, who, like Hamilton Parish who hammered Devonshire Colts 4-1, have sent out an early warning that they intend to be competitive in their first season back in the top division.

The early-season tables will begin to take shape this weekend as Cougars host Colts at Devonshire Rec. tonight (9.00) and Boulevard set their sights on another big scalp when coach Andrew Bascome takes them to Bernard Park to meet his former team.

Hamilton Parish can expect a tougher battle that what Colts gave them last weekend when they begin their home campaign against an unpredictable Dandy Town side. PHC, not usually down for too long, will be looking to bounce back against their landlords, Southampton Rangers, at the Oval.

The First Division already has an interesting look to it with Social Club off to a sprint with maximum points from three outings, thanks mainly to teenager Clay Darrell's two hat-tricks against Paget and X-Roads. Social Club clinched victory number three on Tuesday night with a 2-0 results against BAA.

The promotion is again promising to be wide open, with relegated sides Somerset Trojans and Ireland Rangers expected to be in the mix, despite Rangers' home loss last weekend to St. David's.

The Trojans, who have never spent more than a season down in the lower division, will be hoping to end Social Club's winning start to the season when they host them on Saturday night (8.00) at Somerset. The match was switched from Sunday.

Somerset Eagles, who missed out in the promotion race last season, take on Ireland Rangers in what should be the top match in the division on Sunday. A time change sees that match starting at 3.00 at White Hill, as is the BAA-Prospect fixture at BAA Field.

St. George's meet X-Roads at Wellington Oval while St. David's entertain Paget in the two 12.30 First Division matches.

Weekend schedule

Tonight

Women's FM Cup: Lady Cougars v SCC Hurricanes, 7.00

Premier Division: Dev. Cougars v Dev. Colts, 9.00. Both matches at Devonshire Rec.

Saturday

First Division: Somerset v YMSC (Somerset 8.00)

Sunday

First Division: Som. Eagles v Ir. Rangers (White Hill 3.00); St. David's v Paget (St. David's 12.30); BAA v Prospect (BAA Field 3.00); St. George's v X-Roads (W.Oval 12.30).

Premier Division: North Village v Boulevard (Bernard Park); Ham. Parish v Dandy Town (W.Oval); PHC v S.Rangers (S.Oval). All matches start at 3.00

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St. David's will begin the defence of their Shield title next Tuesday at BAA Field when they take on Paget in an elimination round double header. St. David's, who beat Somerset Eagles in the Shield final in April, will play Paget in the 7.00 opener, to be followed by X-Roads against Social Club at 9.00.

In total there are three elimination matches scheduled, so as to reduce the 11-team First Division competition down to eight teams for the quarter-finals on January 11. The other elimination match on November 26 sees St. George's playing Wolves at Somerset.

Shield and Friendship semi-finals take place on January 11, possibly in the form of four double-headers. The Shield draw has not yet been made but the Friendship draw yesterday pitted defending champions North Village against Dandy Town in one of the top clashes.

Beaten Friendship finalists, PHC, are at home to Devonshire Cougars while Boulevard host Hamilton Parish and Southampton Rangers and Devonshire Colts meet in the other match.

Commercial KO Cup preliminary round (October 25): St. George's All-Stars v Devonshire All-Stars; Somerset Extros v Wolves; St. David's v Devonshire Lions; Boulevard v PHC Raiders; BAA Wanderers v Som. Bridge; Prospect/Fire v Tuff Dogs; Dockyard Falcons v MR Onions 'A'; Pest Control v Valley FC.

Commercial KO Cup, first round (December 20): BAA or Som. Bridge v Pest Control or Valley; St. George's All-Stars or Dev. All-Stars v Dandy Town; MR Onions Real Men v Robin Hood; Prospect/Fire or Tuff Dogs v Som. Extros or Wolves; St. David's or Dev. Lions v NV Rams; Ham. Parish v Key West Rangers; Dockyard Falcons or MR Onions A v Vasco Mariners; Boulevard or PHC Raiders v Lobster Pot.

Lobster Pot are the defending Commercial KO Cup champions, beating Tuff Dogs 3-0 in last season's final.

The Martonmere Cup semi-final matches were also confirmed yesterday, with Group B winners Dandy Town playing Devonshire Cougars on October 21 and Group A winners and defending champions PHC taking on North Village in the second semi-final on October 28.