With three teams set to be relegated in a move to return the Premier Division to ten teams next season, the battle for mid-table safety has developed early with just three points separating seven teams from fourth to tenth place.

Dandy Town and PHC are the only unbeaten teams after four rounds of action, with the rest of the pack struggling for consistency, including Somerset and North Village, who currently sit in third and fourth places respectively, having already dropped five points.

Both teams are expected to be among the title contenders, but have yet to confirm these credentials.

The Trojans lost to Town and drew with PHC in their last two games while Village lost their last two to Devonshire Colts and Somerset Eagles respectively.

Village are without a match this weekend and could slip even further behind the leaders as top team Town take on Eagles on Sunday, looking to make it five wins from five.

Town had a scare against St George’s who pulled a goal back late in the game as Tyrell Burgess scored his first goal for the club, a spectacular strike that went in off the underside of the crossbar. It was also the first goal conceded by Town ‘keeper Jaiden Manders.

The weekend’s action starts with a match tomorrow between mid-table teams St George’s and Robin Hood at Wellington Oval. Both have just a lone win to show from four outings but a win would lift one of them ahead of Village who presently occupy fourth place.

On Sunday, bottom team Southampton Rangers continue their search for a first win when they travel to Police Field to meet Devonshire Colts. Rangers have lost all three of their matches to date, conceding 14 goal in the process while still while still failing to find a goal of their own.

Devonshire Cougars and Somerset Trojans, two of six Premier Division clubs with a new coach this season, meet at Devonshire Rec, where former Town coaches Kwame Steede and Jomar Wilkinson will square off.

In the other match, X-Roads host second place PHC at Garrison Field, hoping to end a three-game losing run.

While PHC are the highest scorers in the division with twelve goals from three games, X-Roads have not found the net since their opening day win over Rangers.

Scoring goals have not been a problem for Hamilton Parish, the First Division leaders, who are averaging five a game in their first three outings.

Parish brushed aside Wolves 3-0 in a top-of-the-table clash last weekend and already hold a four-point lead going into Sunday’s match against Ireland Rangers at Malabar Field. It will be another battle between unbeaten teams, though four points separate these two.

In other matches Young Men’s Social Club host St David’s at Police Field, Boulevard play Paget at Goose Gosling Field and Vasco take on second place BAA at Southampton Oval.

Meanwhile, Ernest Peets, the Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport, reminded yesterday that large group exemptions will continue to require the use of SafeKey at indoor and outdoor events, including football matches where crowd sizes have been restricted.

The Ministry stressed that large group exemptions for sport will continue with the antigen testing regime for the sports group as detailed in the Return to Sport Guidance.

The Ministry also noted that it is aware of false information circulating regarding the sports guidelines. The public is reminded that only official information from the Government/Ministry should be followed.