One record was maintained during this, the feature match off the weekend in the Coca-Cola First Division, as North Village have yet to find the means of defeating Somerset at home since moving to Bernard Park.

The west enders christened the luscious green carpet at the park back on December 1, 1991 with a 4-1 trouncing and to date Village have yet to repay them for the insult.

However, in the early moments of yesterday's match it appeared as if the league leaders might indeed turn the clash into a walkover against the defending champions.

Blazing under gloomy, rain-filled skies the Red Devils moved early and often in attack against an awe-struck Somerset defence.

In the fifth minute Village centre-back Kentoine Jennings almost spurred his side into the lead when he connected on a diving header off a Rahji Edness corner only to have the ball bolt wide of the upright.

A minute later saw Somerset goal-keeper Antoine Swan produce a fine reflex grab to deny Elliott Jennings, and seconds later a similar scenario unfurled with Swan again in the starring role, this time keeping out forward Philip Clarke's effort.

Still, the inevitable came to pass in the eighth minute as the tremendous pressure exerted by the home side paid off as Clarke made amends for the earlier miss.

Shoddy defensive work by the Trojans contributed as Elliott Jennings was allowed free rein along the left flank. His cross into the middle found Clarke unmarked, a scant eight yards from goal, and with Swan committed at the near post the burly striker toe-poked the ball home into the opposite corner.

Cheers from the Village fans hailing the goal had barely diminished when Somerset equalised through a fine piece of finishing by Reggie Tucker in the 11th minute.

A free-kick by Clifton Anderson near the penalty area was partially blocked by the Village defensive wall, however, the ever alert Tucker managed to slip behind the wall during the confusion and drilled a hard, low shot past a bewildered Dwayne Adams from an acute angle.

Action continued to flow at a frenetic pace throughout the half, much like that of a prize fight with each team taking the best punch the other could offer before staggering back to land one of their own.

Nevertheless, neither was able to land the ultimate knock-out blow to completely undress their opponent.

Surprisingly it was the normally efficient player/coach Andrew Bascome who wasted the easiest opportunity of all.

His attempted flick from four yards of an Elliott Jennings cross backfired as the ball sailed when a more conventional approach certainly would have brought the desired result.

Devoid of goals, the second half was no less entertaining, with imaginative build-ups by both teams serving to delight.

Dickinson was called on two minutes following the restart to save off the goal-line a Sean Dill blast and midfielder Edness also produced with a number of long range efforts that called for evasive action by the Trojan back four.

The dying moments saw subs Roger Brangman (Somerset) and Ricky Hill (North Village) both squandering chances to become instant heroes.

North Village: D.Adams; A.Simons, Ken.Jennings, D.Bell, K.Simons; R.Edness, A.Bascome, Kev.Jennings; E.Jennings, P.Clarke (R.Hill 67 mins), S.Dill (T.Darrell 76 mins).

Somerset: A.Swan; A.Rahman, L.Simmons, T.Dickinson, D.DeRosa; C.Anderson, R.Simmons, S.Arorash; A.Bascome, R.Scott (R.Brangman 76 mins), R.Tucker.

Referee: Peter Sousa.

Men of the match: Rahji Edness (North Village), Reggie Tucker (Somerset).