Misfortune surrounded Hamilton Parish's first win of the season as they appear to have lost the services of hard-working midfielder Walton Burgess for an extended period.

Burgess had to be stretchered off the Bernard Park pitch in the dying stages due to damage to his Achilles incurred in an off-the-ball incident with Kevin Jennings of North Village.

Earlier Irving Burgess had played a vital role in securing the points for Parish, scoring one goal and setting up the other for team-mate Sinclair Gibbons. Meanwhile, Clinton Caisey tallied for home side Village, who have now scored just once in three league games.

The first half produced little in terms of action for the sparse crowd on hand with Village's short passing game producing few clear-cut chances and the long-ball display by Parish only slightly more effective.

Village midfielder Stephen Coddington had the first crack at goal in the 11th minute when he sent a right-footed shot inches over the crossbar from 20 yards out following a free kick.

Responding almost immediately were Parish as Irving Burgess just missed poking the ball over the line during a goalmouth scramble after goalkeeper Leon Place mishandled a left-wing cross by Phillion Webb.

Earnest Lathan wasted two opportunities back to back in the 27th minute. First he miskicked from eight yards after a failed clearance by the defence and seconds afterward his shot from two yards closer bounded off the legs of Place.

However, there would be no mistake in the finishing of Gibbons seven minutes before the half as he headed Parish into the lead.

Kacy Simons sent over a searching cross from deep on the right side, which was miskicked by Albert Wolfe inside the penalty area, but the ever alert Irving Burgess was able to recover the ball and square for Gibbons to provide the finishing touch.

This lead lasted until the nine minutes on in the second half when Parish 'keeper George Fox literally handed Village the equaliser. His poor clearance was picked up by the diminutive Caisey inside the penalty area and with Fox off his line he deftly lobbed the ball into the far corner.

Parish restored their one-goal advantage when some beautiful work on the right between Gibbons and Irving Burgess resulted in the former making a pinpoint pass to the latter runnning up the middle and Burgess proceeded to round Place and blast the ball past two defenders into the roof of the net.

Youngster Jamel Smith was introduced into the Village attack in place of Tito Smith following this setback and it almost paid dividends as he just missed the mark with a header.

Nevertheless, it was not to be for Village on this day and it is readily apparent that they will need to solve their goal-scoring problems if they are to challenge for honours.

North Village: L.Place; A.Simons (C.Castle, 81 mins), W.Augustus, A.Caisey, M.Hansey; K.Jennings, C.Caisey, S.Coddington; T.Smith (J.Smith, 65 mins), P.Simmons, S.Dill.

Hamilton Parish: G.Fox; P.Webb, D.Trott (G.Smith, 87 mins), J.Nicholls, I.Frith; A.Wolfe (A.Darrell, 60 mins), K.Simons, W.Burgess; I.Burgess, S.Gibbons, E.Lathan.

Referee: Roddy Burchall Men of the match: Michael Hansey (North Village); Irving Burgess (Hamilton Parish).