North Village 3 PHC 0 North Village bagged the first silverware of the new soccer season in a Charity Cup match cut short by 16 minutes after a spectator turned off some of the floodlights at BAA Field.

Two of the eight banks of lights went out in the 74th minute of Sunday night's season curtain-raiser, leaving the Serpentine Road end of the field in darkness.

Referee Anthony Mouchette immediately stopped the game with FA Cup holders the Red Devils leading 3-0 against league champions PHC and called the captains together.

Some 10 minutes of deliberations followed, also involving Bermuda Football Association general secretary David Sabir.

In the end, they decided to award the cup to Village and let the decent-sized crowd go home rather than go through the lengthy process of turning on the lights again.

Sabir told The Royal Gazette that a spectator pulled a switch, forcing the newly installed meter box to lose power. He added that the lights would have taken 20 minutes to cool down before coming back on again and consequently the two clubs agreed to call an end to the match.

Goals from David Thomas, Tafari Outerbridge and Keith Jennings had put Village in command after they survived a shaky start.

It was a dream start for new Village coach Scott Morton, who now has a record of one match, one victory and one trophy.

Former assistant coach Morton took over from Kenny Thompson, who is now the club's director of football, and he believes he is working with the best bunch of players on the Island.

"It's nice to start off with a win in any competition,'' said Morton. "In the first 15 minutes, they (PHC) had all the pressure and I was pleased with the way our players absorbed it, physically and mentally.'' Morton did not want to read too much into the victory for last season's Premier Division runners-up against the champions. "For the players that can sometimes have a negative effect, if they start to think `we don't need to work too hard, because we can beat the league champions','' said Morton.

"Last season I felt that our team was far better than any other team in Bermuda and every game I saw us play, we were the better side.

"I am going to put my whole self into coaching this team and with the squad we have, we shouldn't have many problems and I want to give many thanks to Kenny for that.'' Morton said Thompson would no longer be involved in coaching, but he would be in charge of fitness training.

The Zebras got off to a bright start with striker Stephen Astwood prominent.

Astwood, whose chance to launch a pro soccer career with English club Preston was strangled by red tape, cracked in two low shots in the opening three minutes, just off target.

Village took the lead against the run of play after pacey front runner Kevin Jennings went down in the penalty area under a challenge from Dano Outerbridge. Under-23 international David Thomas slotted home the spot-kick, but was then ordered to retake it as one of his team-mates had encroached into the penalty area. Thomas calmly netted again to give his side a 21st-minute lead and claim the first goal of the new season.

Ottis Steede shot just wide from 20 yards and a Raynel Lightbourne snap-shot from 10 yards was saved instinctively by Zane Hendrickson as PHC battled in vain to find a way through the compact Village side.

Village gradually gained momentum and doubled their lead three minutes before the break courtesy of a gift from PHC goalkeeper Qunicy Hunt.

Tafari Outerbridge curled in a cross from the left flank, which Hunt attempted to gather on the half-volley, but the unfortunate 'keeper succeeded only in diverting it into the net.

With the Zebras up against it, Astwood's frustration showed just two minutes into the second half, when he was cautioned by Mouchette, apparently for dissent, and 15 minutes later coach Sammy Swan substituted the 18-year-old.

Village's third goal arrived five minutes into the second half, when PHC failed to clear a corner and summer signing Keith Jennings lashed the loose ball home from 15 yards.

North Village: Z.Hendrickson, J.Thomas, R.Spence, D.Thomas, K.Binns, J.Boyles, M.Dill, Kei.Jennings (S.Goater 73 mins), Kev.Jennings, T.Outerbridge (D.Warren 73 mins), V.Tankard (Kent.Jennings 66 mins).

PHC: Q.Hunt, E.Hunt, D.Outerbridge, R.Lewis, C.Dowling, C.Furbert, A.Washington, O.Steede, R.Lightbourne (D.Hunt 66 mins), D.Wilson, S.Astwood (T.Darrell 62 mins).

Men of the match: Keith Jennings (Village); Ottis Steede (PHC).

Referee: Anthony Mouchette Yellow cards: S.Astwood, C.Dowling (PHC); Kei.Jennings (Village).

Ride a wild horse: Somerset Cup Match captain Albert Steede shows off the trophy while marching through the streets of Somerset on Friday evening in what has become a traditional parade for the victorious west enders.

Bat and pad: Flatts opener Quinn Outerbridge successfully negotiates this delivery during Saturday's Eastern Counties final against St. David's. The Islanders retained the trophy as the match fizzled out into a tame draw. Full report, see Page 33 .

On the move: Derek Wright goes through for a single as Herbie Bascome prepares for the return during Saturday's Eastern Counties final.

Still number one: Not even this young cyclist could match Kavin Smith for speed as he ran away with victory in yesterday's Labour Day five mile race.

Off and running: Competitors in yesterday's Labour Day Five Miler, traditionally the first road race of the season, set off from the Parsons Road start line. Kavin Smith and Anna Eatherley, who ruled the roads last season, took up where they left off, Smith leading the men home in 26 minutes, 45 seconds and Eatherley topping the women's field in 29.53. Full results, see Scoreboard.