Horrible weather and plenty of PHC grit and guts were enough to knock North Village out of the Friendship Trophy on a wet and wild night at Somerset Cricket Club.

It was Antwon Russell's needlessly conceded penalty that set up the semi-final win but it was the defensive heroics of Jay Smith and his backline that sealed the deal in a scrappy encounter spoilt by incessant rain and too much tension for attractive football.

A last-minute wonder save by Zane Hendrickson aside, there were 82 minutes of Village pressure as the cup specialists sought yet another trip to the carpet and a date with the Devonshire Cougars.

But when Alale Furbert bundled into his Village prey after just 16 seconds, the tone for the night was set - it was not going to be one of Frendship and Village were in for a torrid evening.

Furbert can perhaps count himself lucky not to have received a straight red for his assault, but it was that sort of intensity that earned his side an early lead and ensured they kept it.

With Kenneth Mills distracting the Village defence by tying his shoelaces, Russell broke through after just eight minutes and was just taking possession of the ball on the edge of the penalty area when Hendrickson needlessly slid out of his goal.

The 'keeper took man and ball, leaving referee Lyndon Raynor, who was to go on to flash his yellow card six times, little choice but to award the spot kick.

Russell comfortably placed it in the net and PHC had their lead.

But it was a lead that could have been tripled in the first period as Russell twice more had opportunities to prove why he was a fear-of-flying away from a Digicel Cup appearance earlier this year.

But both counter-attack chances were squandered leaving the pressure piling on for his defence.

Needless to say it was the unpredictable but talented Keith Jennings who provided much of the inspiration for Village going forward and he was unlucky that Smith was tall enough and athletic enough to block his first half lob.

But it was to be in the second half where Village really turned the screw in pursuit of an equaliser and some unwanted rainy extra time.

Twice the ball was scrambled on to the post and on at least three occasions Smith got a chance to fling himself around his box to deny Jennings and also now substitute Ralph Bean Jr.

But try as they might, Village couldn't find a way through on a night that was destined not to be theirs.

The final highlight, however, was to come from the boot of Russell and the glove of Hendrickson, who managed to spectacularly parry away a vicious PHC volley from distance in the dying moments.

It was wet, it was ugly, it was often unsavoury, but for PHC, it was just what they wanted.

Village: Z. Hendrickson, K. Jennings, K. Dill, Kentoine Jennings, R. Spence (S. Goater, 65 mins, M. Hansey, D. Edwards (R. Bean Jr., 53 mins), J. Jennings, N. Smith, Keith Jennings, V. Tankard (J. Jennings, 77 mins).

PHC: J. Smith, J. Sealey (C. Furbert, 65 mins), R. Richardson, T. Russell, C. Dowling, C. Robinson, B. Bean, A. Furbert, J. Raynor (K. Lambe, 75 mins), K. Mills, A. Russell.

Bookings: A. Furbert, B. Bean, R. Richardson (PHC) Kevin Jennings, Kofi Dill, Nakia Smith (Village)

Men of the match: Keith Jennings (Village) J. Smith (PHC)

Referee: Lyndon Raynor

l St. David's booked a date in the Shield final with Ireland Rangers courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Devonshire Colts last night.

Strikes in either half from Angelo Cannonier were enough for the win with McQuinn Burch scoring for Colts on the stroke of half time.