In order for Village to wipe out the three-point gap between themselves and Town, they will have to win their two remaining matches and hope that Town lose theirs.

Either way they look at it, North Village will need some help from another team, though they can start by helping themselves tomorrow with a victory that would move them to within a point of the leaders.

Though there is a possibility the league trophy will not end up at Western Stars Sports Club, few will be prepared to bet against that happening.

For Town need only a draw, either against Village at home or St. George's next weekend at Wellington Oval to wrap up their second championship, and leave Village 15 years without success in the league.

It is at this stage of the season that teams, and their fans, start to look back on dropped points that have proven costly. Village can reflect on failure to win in their last three matches, as they picked up just two of a maximum six points.

One other team, Devonshire Colts, have a mathematical chance of winning the league, but there are too many ifs-and-buts for them to be optimistic. They need to win their two remaining matches and then hope that Village beat Town and then both teams to lose their final matches.

If that is accomplished there are still no guarantees for Colts because they presently have an inferior goal difference to Town, 21 to 11.

Colts are at home to jinx team St. George's tomorrow and they can get revenge on the east-enders by spoiling their Martonmere Cup hopes.

Last season, Colts had their title hopes dashed by two losses to St. George's, and in three meetings in the league since St. George's returned to the First Division, Colts have not beaten them.

St. George's need to keep that proud record going if they are to qualify for their first Martonmere Cup.

Even though five of the six Martonmere Cup places for next season have already been settled, the sixth does not look like being confirmed until next weekend.

Three teams are battling for that final spot with two of them, Vasco and PHC, meeting tonight in an important clash. Presently, Vasco trail PHC by a point and if Vasco win it would not only move them to safety but also virtually send Southampton Rangers back into the Second Divison.

Rangers would then need to win their two remaining matches against St. David's and North Village and hope the Islanders can beat PHC.

They should achieve the first tomorrow by stopping already doomed St. David's but cannot afford to look any farther than that.

Boulevard, who have been fading of late, are at home to Somerset in a match that can only change league positions near the top. Boulevard are presently third but they will drop another spot if the Trojans come out of St. David's with both points.

In the Second Division, Wolves, who had their promotion hopes dashed with a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Prospect recently, will be hoping that same team can do them a favour tomorrow.

Wolves need Prospect to beat BAA to keep alive their very slim hopes of promotion. At the same time Wolves must do something no other team in the Second Divison has done this season -- beat champions Devonshire Cougars a few hundred yards away at Devonshire Rec.

The odds are against that happening and BAA should be celebrating their return to the top flight tomorrow.