DEFENDING champions St Clair Coaching School and title aspirants Sidey's FC have opened up a seven-point lead on the 12- club field in the Premier Division of the Tobago Football Association, following the seventh round of matches last weekend.
Both teams have 18 points apiece and are unbeaten after six matches, but the champions lead the table on goal difference.
Ironically, Coaching School and Sidey's had identical 4-1 wins on the weekend after victories against 1976 FC Phoenix and Black Rock United, respectively.
On Sunday, Coaching School got goals from four different players to whip newly promoted Phoenix 4-1 in the last game of a double-header at Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet. Hitting the back of the net for the title-holders were Keron Duncan, Donnell Grant, Keno Proctor and Keon Samuel, while Jerren Alfred did the business for Phoenix.
On the same day, striker Pavel Warrick netted a brace to lift Sidey's to a commanding 4-1 win over Black Rock on home turf in Speyside.
Rondelle Johnson and Kwesi Kent added to Sidey's tally. Trevor Alleyne got the consolation effort for lowly-placed Black Rock, who are in their second season among the big boys.
Last campaign's second-placed club Roxborough Lakers lost some precious ground on the leaders when they were beaten 2-1 by ninth placed Georgia United at home in Roxborough.
The former champions got strikes from Atwell Phillips and Shey Jerry to secure just their second win in seven outings. Gravon Crooks was the provider for Lakers, who remained in third position on 11 points.
Fourth placed Stokely Vale---the 2009 winners--dropped two important points through a goalless stalemate with rock-bottom newcomers Lambeau United in the opening match at the DYS last Sunday night.
Stokely Vale are now fourth, ahead of Mason Hall USSS and Phoenix in that order via goal difference. All three clubs have eight points.
In the First Division, leaders Youth Stars dropped two vitals points after they were held to a 2-2 draw with mid-table HV Milan on Saturday. Also on the same day, Bethel United and demoted Earlbrokes shared the spoils in a goalless contest, while Signal Hill Utd edged Mason Hall PYC 2-1.