North Village took full advantage of an error by Dandy Town goalkeeper Jason Smith to earn a share of the points in this top-of-the-table clash at St.John's Field on Saturday night.

Kevin Jennings gratefully accepted the early Christmas gift after Village had fallen behind as early as the fifth minute to a strike from Town's Devon Binns.

Village appeared to be caught off guard as Town came out from the opening whistle at a furious pace. And their intensity immediately bore fruit as Binns coolly finished from five yards following a well-orchestrated move involving a one-two between Devarr Boyles and Kris Martin which allowed the latter to square the ball to Binns in the six yard box.

Town went on to enjoy most of the play in the first half and they should have walked off at the break with the lead.

But in the 27th minute 'keeper Smith failed to control a back pass and Jennings swooped in to intercept and tap home the equaliser from 15 yards.

Jennings might have had another in the 43rd minute after a pass from midfield found him unmarked 25 yards out. But he rushed his shot, firing the ball high over the bar.

After the break it was Village who came out running at their opponents.

The speedy Jennings again caused problems for the defence as he sent in a low shot that raced across the face of the goal with nobody there to add the finishing touch.

And Binns unleashed an ambitious shot from just inside Village's half which had goalkeeper Steede's full attention in the 51st minute.

Jennings also went close in the 58th minute from a corner and Sergio Goater cleverly created space for a shot which he then failed to execute.

Neil Robinson almost got to a floating ball before goalkeeper Smith, and Jameiko Jennings fired a bullet from 25 yards that dipped just over the bar as it seemed certain Village would take the lead.

But it was not to be and the only remaining highlight of the night came from Town's veteran crowd favourite Carlos Smith, who came on as substitute. He fired a missile from 25 yards which crashed into the crossbar, allowing Heys Wolffe to follow up with a stinger of his own but Steede was equal to the challenge.

Smith had another chance in the 88th minute but as the ball found him from a Town corner he failed to connect properly from just five yards out.

Dandy Town: J.Smith; D.Bailey, D.Outerbridge, J.Marshall, L.Furbert, D.Binns (C.Smith 75 mins), E.Bean (H.Wolffe 46 mins), D.Boyles, K.Martin, M.Smith (W.Place 75 mins), R.Tucker.

North Village: N.Steede, R.Spence, J.Thomas, Ko.Dill, M.Hansey, D.Jennings (R.Edness 88 mins), J.Boyles, S.Goater (D.Brangman 37 mins), K.Jennings (K.Dill 75 mins), J.Jennings, N.Robinson.

Referee: Lyndon Raynor.

Men of the match: Dano Outerbridge (Town); Kofi Dill (Village).