After sleep-walking through their first three matches, conceding 25 goals, Commercial Division Group B cellar-dwellers Exiles finally arose from their autumn slumber on Saturday, snatching a 1-1 draw from the league's previous co-leaders North Village Rams.

Making the result all the more remarkable was the fact that Exiles played the final 45 minutes with only 10 men after forward Edwin Ford received his marching orders from referee Greg Smith for an intentional hand-ball seconds before the interval.

Still, Exiles managed to take a 1-0 lead five minutes into the second half at Bernard Park, Allan Johnson nipping between two defenders and lobbing past goalkeeper George Hayward.

Pressure from Rams followed and for a while it appeared the heroics of Lyndon Raynor between the sticks might allow the visitors to hold on for the win. But finally Paul Trott squeezed in a shot from an acute angle.

The draw snapped Rams' two-game winning streak and also dropped them to second place, with Valley taking over sole possession of the top spot. Exiles leapt one spot from 10th to ninth.

Valley consolidated their position on the strength of a 2-1 victory over Bermuda Pest Control, who went into the match with a chance of taking over first place.

Valley stormed into a 2-0 half-time lead on the strength of goals by Millard (Fathead) Rawlins and Timmy Telford.

Pest Control responded with a strike of their own minutes into the second half and continued to press forward to the end but without further reward.

Taking advantage of the slip by Pest Control were Fire Service, who crept into the number three slot via a 3-1 triumph over short-handed Belco.

Goalscoring ace Troy Furbert once again did most of the damage, twice beating Belco's 'keeper Anthony (Toe) Dill -- standing in for Josh Binns, who reverted to a midfield role -- while Michael Rawlins aided with a single strike. Vernon Martin replied for Belco, who played the entire match with only 10-men.

A goal feast erupted at the western tip of the Island as Prison Officers and Devonshire Lions combined for nine goals at Malabar. Lions emerged 5-4 winners, never having trailed in the match.

Lions' Gary Bascome and Ernest McCallan each scored twice and Donald Norford once to carry the men from the Den through. Charlie Fox, Ed Lightbourne, Denton Leader and Ricky Smith scored one goal apiece for the losers.

The remaining Group B affair saw Somerset Extros and Wolves Pack battle to a 1-1 draw at Somerset Cricket Club with Samuel Lambe scoring for Wolves.

In Group A BAA Wanderers now have sole control of first place. Wanderers seized a two point advantage at the head of the league, rolling past winless Lobster Pot 3-0 and extending this year's winning streak to three games.

Gary Flood, Andy McCulloch and Frank Brewster scored for Wanderers, who now have nine points from three matches and a two point lead over closest challengers Devonshire Colts All-Stars.

All-Stars engaged in a heated affair with Forties that saw three players ejected -- two from All-Stars, one from Forties -- but even playing most of the affair with 10-men and the final moments with nine, they held on for a 5-4 victory.

Jeff Richardson celebrated his return to the line-up with four goals, while Marvin Campbell added another.

Meanwhile, Andrew Robinson scored a most unusual hat-trick, netting three times from the penalty spot, with Jorg Wolffe netting the other.

Also moving up were Spinning Wheel, who stopped high riding Island Rangers in their tracks, beating the home side 2-0 at Malabar behind a Chris Furbert strike and an own goal.

Sneaking into third spot were Robin Hood as they battered jaded Mariners 4-0 in a surprise result, Mariners having been one of the pre-season picks to challenge for top honours.

Bleary Arnold led the victory charge for the men from the Hood, blasting home two goals. Mike Stenhouse and Jarlath McCabe were the other scorers.

The remaining fixture saw St. George's All-Stars and MR Onions -- formerly KPMG -- fight to a 1-1 draw. Sinclair Smith scored for the former, while Don Smythe replied for Onions.