Dennis Brown, the Devonshire Cougars coach, has dubbed tomorrow night’s crunch Premier Division match against Dandy Town Hornets as the game of the season to date.

The pair are set for their first encounter in league action and are separated by only two points at the top of the standings.

Heading into last weekend, Town led Cougars by goal difference, but a draw against Wolves for the defending champions, coupled with a Hornets win over St David’s has given the St John’s Field outfield a little breathing room.

Admitting the importance of the match and the bearing that it could potentially have heading into the second half of the season, Brown wants his charges ready for battle come the first whistle at 8pm at Devonshire Recreation Club.

“Friday night is our biggest game due to the current standings and I think that it will be an intriguing match of the top two teams so far this season,” Brown said.

“In training we talked about and worked on things that we need to be successful in during the match on Friday night.

“I will not divulge any secrets as to what that may be, but we are preparing well.”

The St John’s Road club have had the better of their city rivals this season. In their two clashes thus far, Town have won both: a 2-1 come-from-behind win in the Dudley Eve Trophy group stage and a penalty shoot-out win in the final of the same competition.

The win in the final ended Cougars’ run of four successive cup triumphs and their quest to possess every piece of silverware in the top flight.

Brown was adamant, however, that the string of negative results against their biggest title rivals will have no factor on the match, nor how his side approach the match.

The incentive of heading into the Christmas break with Town’s scalp is the ideal motivation for Cougars, given that they have yet to show the form that made them so dominant last season.

“The [Dudley Eve Trophy] final has no bearing on the match Friday night,” Brown said. “Dandy Town won on penalties, but we missed many chances, so it should be a very interesting match.

“It would be good to be on top at the half because I really feel that we haven’t even hit stride yet, but we are there challenging.

“Whether we are on top or points behind at the halfway mark, what really matters is who is on top at the end.”

Cougars captain Chris Caisey Jr echoed Brown’s sentiments. “This is the type of game you wait a long time to play,” he said. “When it is a top-of-the-table clash, and against one of your main threats to your crown, you want to give it your all.

“We want to get the result, after the result last week against Wolves, and to beat them come tomorrow night will go a long way for either club in the long haul.

“It might not be crunch time just yet, but these are the matches that go a long way in deciding your fate and your chances of making a real run at the league crown.”