The Premier League title race took another dramatic twist during the week as Queen’s dropped three points in a 1-0 defeat by Ballymoney at the Dub.
Kate Caithness grabbed the only goal of the game to condemn the students to their first defeat of the New Year.
The result signalled a modicum of revenge for ‘Money who were held to a draw in the teams’ last meeting before Christmas.
And it also keeps their faint title hopes alive but the biggest beneficiaries were defending champions Pegasus who are now looking slight favourites to retain the trophy.
Since losing to Lurgan in January they have won five in a row and look to be the most consistent team of the lot at this stage of the campaign.
Tonight Pegasus have the chance to make that six of the best when they face Victorians in a game they should win with a degree of comfort.
Elsewhere in Senior One Harlequins will be hoping to put the memory of two dropped points against Ballymena behind them when they entertain lowly Greenisland at Deramore on Friday night.
Ards also won midweek as they defeated Randalstown 2-0 to move closer to a place in the top four at the end of the season.
One team that could spoil the script in that regard is the Ulster Elks and as fate would have it the two teams meet head on in Saturday’s most appealing fixture in the top flight.
The Jordanstown side made it two wins in a row last time out as they followed up their victory over then leaders Lurgan with a 1-0 success over ‘Town.
Realistically the Elks need to win to keep the pressure on Ards who might not be too unhappy at a share of the spoils in the circumstances.
Lurgan need to get back to winning ways having dropped five poinst out of their last six as they take on Armagh in a local derby at Ardmore.
Armagh beat their local rivals 4-3 in the Irish Cup before Christmas and Lurgan will be taking nothing for granted against an improved home side.
Portadown are unlikely to get much change out of Ballymoney so the bottom of the table could well be the same come 4 o’clock on Saturday.
Randalstown have been up and down as their form has been concerned this season but tyey will have an added incentive to perform at their best against Queen’s.
That’s because ‘Town lost 7-0 to the same opponents ealier in the campaign but Simon Bell’s team will be anxious to bounce back after that reverse during the week.
There is just one game down for decision on Saturday in Senior One as Civil Service tackle Cookstown at Stormont with both teams battling for mid table respectability.
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