Yesterday's match at PHC Stadium between North Village and the Zebras provided a lot of fireworks but very little results.

The game was played at a fast and furious pace as both teams played to a tame draw.

PHC produced the opening score in the 15th minute when they were awarded a corner kick. Ottis Steede floated the kick into the six-yard box where it was pounced on by Frankie Ming. His shot ricocheted of the leg of a defender to a waiting Meschach Wade who wasted no time firing in a hard first-time strike.

The game remained deadlocked over the remaining 30 minutes of the half as both teams offered an array of dazzling attacks and counter-attacks with neither finding the net on a host of opportunities.

North Village were guilty of some poor finishing and could quite possibly have taken a one-goal lead into the second half with a better effort up front from their dual strike combination of Elliott Jennings and Phillip Clarke.

In the 37th minute, Village's Clinton Caisey was the beneficiary of a beautiful pass that split the PHC defence. However, veteran defender Mike Dill ran him down and stripped Caisey just as he was about to fire from 10 yards out.

Less than a minute later, Kevin Grant did a nice one-two with Caisey who got by his defender and sent in a low, searching pass into the goalmouth that Clarke somehow bobbled over goal, providing another lost opportunity to score.

PHC brought on Kenny Mills for Dana Rawlins at the half to boost their attack and provide some breathing room from the pesky Red Devils.

However, the move seemed to reverse their fortunes as Village seized the initiative and went on the attack, completely repelling any attacks PHC threw at them and, ultimately, dominating the home side throughout the second half.

In the 50th minute, Elliott Jennings had his header cleared off the line. Two minutes later Clarke went in solo on the 'keeper only to have his point-blank shot turned away for a corner. Then again in the 60th minute, Shawn Smith sent a lob pass over the defence to Clarke who shot over with the 'keeper well off his line.

Village scored their inevitable goal in the 73rd minute when Clarke redeemed himself by firing a blast just inside the right upright. The goal was the result of a throw-in to Clarke who turned on the ball and beat two defenders into the penalty area, before scoring.

Village were provided with many more opportunities to score. If not for the firm and steadying presence of PHC defender Dill, Village may well have scored on at least three other occassions.

Under the circumstances, PHC can consider themselves lucky to have escaped the afternoon with a share of the points.

PHC: C.Crockwell, N.Simons, R.Lewis, M.Dill, D.Outerbridge, O.Steede, S.Swan, D.Rawlins (K.Mills, 45 mins), M.Wade (S.Simons, 75 mins), F.Ming, W.Trott.

North Village: D.Adams, K.Grant, W.Agustus, S.Smith, M.Hansey, Kev.Jennings, P.Clarke, Ken.Jennings, R.Edness, C.Caisey, E.Jennings.

Referee: Frank Drayton.

Men of the match: Mike Dill (PHC); Clinton Caisey (North Village).

Rude Girls caused the first major upset of women's soccer when they beat Telecom 5-3 in Friday's night FA Cup final at National Stadium.

It was the first defeat suffered by Telecom in four years of organised women's play in Bermuda.

Naquita Dill and Chevonne Furbert scored two goals apiece for the victorious Rude Girls with defender Dionne Burrows getting the other.

Janice Hankey scored twice for Telecom and Claudette Baisden netted a late consolation tally.

A full report will run in tomorrow's paper.