This lacklustre performance by North Village at Lord's yesterday still saw them come away with a point when they should have been decisively beaten by hosts Boulevard in the top Coca-Cola First Division match.

Failure to take both points, however, caused Village to relinquish the lead to Dandy Town who had no difficulty taking maximum points from PHC in their match at St. John's field.

North Village were indeed fortunate to come away with a point because the game should have been put out of their reach by the interval after Boulevard virtually had things their way during the first 45 minutes.

With Village unable to find their rhythm and looking sloppy during the early stages, Boulevard were allowed to take the initiative and were only denied success because of some hard luck and superb goalkeeping by Dwayne Adams.

Adams was busy as a bee in the opening half, from as early as the fifth minute when he was in position to smother a drive from Kenny Hill just as the Boulevard striker entered the penalty area.

More heroics from Adams followed seven minutes later when Boulevard's skipper Dwight Warren sent a scorching 17-yard drive that Adams brilliantly tipped over the bar for a corner.

Village followed this up with a counter attack that saw mid-field player Sheldon Franks send a crisp 16-yard shot just over the bar. However, it was not long before Boulevard regained their momentum.

After 17 minutes mid-fielder Herbie Bascome watched in agony as his 15-yard blast was sensationally palmed away by Adams while diving to his left and another fiercely hit shot three minutes later from Bascome -- this time from 18 yards -- was superbly collected by Adams diving to his left.

For the remainder of the half, while Village were forced to play catch-up soccer, Boulevard dominated but were unable to get the goal they deserved.

Except for the occasional counter-attack that always ended with a pass too many being intercepted by a defender, Village accomplished very little for the rest of the half.

Boulevard forced seven corners within a span of 15 minutes and continued to press with two further chances falling their way. After 35 minutes Warren was through on a break but his angled shot upon entering the box was blocked by the advancing Adams and then Clinton Caisey followed up by placing a hard shot inches wide from 17 yards.

Village, obviously inspired by a half-time lecture from coach Andrew Bascome at the half, played with more purpose early in the second half and pinned down Boulevard for the first 15 minutes.

Skipper Elliott Jennings blew a rare opportunity when he slipped through the defence only to put his shot straight at the advancing Lynn Tucker in the Boulevard goal after 52 minutes.

Four minutes later more agony fell Village's way when the skipper sent a cross from the right to Kevin Jennings who sadly put his left-footed shot wide from an angle 15 yards out on the left.

As Village continued to pile on the pressure Kevin caused Boulevard further alarm when he unleashed a 16-yard shot that Tucker was in position to collect.

Boulevard managed to find their touch after awhile and narrowly missed taking the lead after 65 minutes when Clinton Caisey's thunderbolt drive from 16 yards crashed off the bar and down on the goal line where Adams was able to collect and clear.

With Village losing a grip of the proceedings, Bouelvard -- with Carlos Pearman and Clinton Caisey prominent in the middle -- finished the game off on top but were still unable to create any clear-cut scoring chances before time ran out.

Boulevard: L.Tucker; D.Boyles, W.Richardson, G.Smith, A.Caisey; C.Caisey, C.Pearman, H.Bascome; N.Robinson (S.Wade 70min), K.Hill (V.Tuzo 82min), D.Warren.

North Village: D.Adams; K.Grant, Kent.Jennings, D.Bell, A.Simons (P.Clarke 83min); S.Franks, K.Simons, R.Edness; E.Jennings, R.Hill (S.Dill 57min), Kev.Jennings.

Referee: Esten Curtis Men of the match: Clinton Caisey (Boulevard); Dwayne Adams (North Village).

IF IN DOUBT -- North Village defender Arthur Simons takes the safety route as he clears the ball before Neil Robinson of Boulevard could threaten at St.

David's.