North Village finished off the first half in style, defeating another of the First Division's `top guns', this time sending Dandy Town scurrying away from Bernard Park with their tails tucked.

Nakia Smith accounted for the celebration by the home faithful, as it was his 66th minute header following an exquisite build-up on the right side that separated the pair.

The slim victory also allowed the second-placed Red Devils to remain within a single point of leaders Vasco -- 21 compared to 22 -- who at the same time enjoyed a goal feast against St. George's.

Billed as the top encounter, yesterday's offering failed to scale the heights expected, but Village at least were able to do enough to earn maximum reward.

However, the opening moments falsely foretold a dissenting outcome as the visitors generated a quick start and looked like carrying on from their 13-1 slaughter of Somerset Eagles a week prior.

Just three minutes into the contest Darron Simons wafted through the Village defence into the danger zone, but, with Dwayne Adams exposed, he was robbed by Rahji Edness coming from the blind side just as he shaped to shoot.

In the 17th minute it was the turn of the woodwork to save Adams and Village their blushes after a harmless free-kick by Lionel Furbert was mis-kicked by Sheldon Franks allowing the ball to roll through to the six-yard line where Adams' attempted clearance rebounded off Khari Sharrieff, but skimmed off the crossbar.

Village did not achieve anything resembling an attack until the 19th minute, when Nakia Smith, Kuma Smith and Sheldon Franks performed a neat exchange on the left side to set up Cal Dill in the middle. Dill's effort from 20 yards though was denied by goalkeeper Antoine Lightbourne, being collected on the second attempt.

Town responded in the 32nd minute, again having Simons in a key role, this time making a move on the left but watching his attempt from an acute angle drift agonisingly wide of the far post.

A rejuvenated home side appeared for the second half and quickly placed the visitors in the defensive role.

Damon Wade squandered a golden opportunity to go ahead in the 57th minute when a long pass from centre-back Michael Hansey sprung his captain, who made his way into the penalty area but with a shot beckoning elected to pass across goal, allowing Lightbourne to advance and avert the danger.

Ascento Russell similarly squandered a perfect one-on-one opportunity with Adams at the other end as Village's defence was caught napping and this miss would prove costly moments later.

Substitute Leon Raynor started the move deep on the right side, near midfield, slipping it inside to Wade who in turn slipped a one-time pass to an overlapping Kevin Grant. Grant carried to the goal-line before delivering an inch-perfect cross that found Smith at the far post and he made no mistake, planting a solid header past Lightbourne.

Town fought desperately for the equaliser in the dying stages to no avail, however there was yet some consolation as they still qualified for the Dudley Eve Trophy competition as a result of St. George's similar failure -- the top four teams at the end of the first half qualify for the Dudley Eve Trophy.

North Village: D.Adams; K.Grant, D.Bell, M.Hansey, R.Edness; C.Dill (W.Augustus 63 mins), S.Franks, D.Wade, K.Smith (L.Raynor 54 mins); N.Smith (Q.Paynter 79 mins), S.Dill.

Dandy Town: A.Lightbourne; A.Wilson, W.Rudo, P.Douglas, L.Furbert; K.Martin, W.Musson (J.Weeks 80 mins), T.Lewis, A.Russell (N.Smith 64 mins); K.Sharrieff (C.Smith 67 mins), D.Simons.

Men of the match: Michael Hansey (North Village), Kurt Martin (Dandy Town).

Referee: Roddy Burchall.