St. George's 1 North Village 2

For three short minutes late in the first half St. George's threatened to do the unexpected for the second time this season . . . beat high riding North Village.

But in the end the Rams overcame the scare to return to the top of the Premier Division.

When St. George's beat Village at Bernard Park three months ago, the division's bottom club prevented their opponents from taking over sole possession of first place as the loss signalled a slump which saw Village drop into the lower half of the table and fail to qualify for the Dudley Eve.

Yesterday at Wellington Oval the east enders almost did it again when, with their first goal scored at Wellington Oval this season, they took the lead against the run of play in the 32nd minute.

But Village, not ready to suffer the dubious distinction of losing all six league points to the relegation certainties, fought back and equalised in the 35th minute.

The visitors then scored again 13 minutes into the second half to secure the three points that hoisted them back on top of the table.

Village, who recently beat former leaders Devonshire Colts 5-0, didn't have things their own way as St. George's matched them during the opening minutes with Tafari Outerbridge of Village going closest for either team in the ninth minute when he turned and lifted a shot over the top from the corner of the six yard box.

Village began to turn up the pressure in the warm conditions, forcing a couple of quick corners as Hall and his defence were put under siege. Only the top of Neil Paynter's head kept the score level when a cross from the right by Domico Coddington grazed his head at the far post just as Clay Smith was picking his spot.

When it looked certain Village would be the team to take the lead, St. George's forced in a goal of their own to take the lead in a league match for the first time since their October 28 meeting with Village. With their third corner on the left, captain Marlon Outerbridge found Wayne Henry at the near post and his glancing header hit the back of the net.

The St. George's fans were still smiling when Village erased their lead. A free kick on the left side by Clay Smith was hit low and hard into the box and beat a mass of players before midfielder Jamaul Boyles steered it past Hall at the far post.

The injection of Kevin Jennings for Vernon Tankard at the start of the second half boosted Village on the flanks as Jennings was quickly into the action, following up a short corner he took by blasting a low, hard shot through a crowded goalmouth and just past the far post.

Then he supplied a cross from the left which landed invitingly for Boyles at the far post but the midfielder just failed to make contact with just Hall to beat.

The winning goal came a minute later when a pass through the St. George's defence set up Tafari Outerbridge to score from inside the box. It would be a lead they would not relinquish despite the defiance of the home team.

Henry went close to adding a second goal in the 70th minute when a corner on the right by Kyle Williams was knocked back to the far post where Henry's diving header from three yards missed the target. Henry injured himself in the effort and needed treatment.

Jennings went close to extending the Village lead in injury time when his free kick grazed the top of the crossbar.

The loss was the ninth in the league this season for St. George's and the fourth by a one-goal margin.

St. George's: T.Hall; D.Signor, N.Paynter, U.Fox, D.Bailey; D.Wright (D.Smith 80 mins), K.Williams, W.Henry, M.Outerbridge, S.Gibbons, K.Butterfield (G.Foggo 77 mins).

Booked: D.Smith.

North Village: D.Adams; M.Dill, K.Binns, Ken.Jennings, R.Spence; J.Boyles, D.Coddington (T.Jennings 60 mins), M.Hansey, C.Smith, T.Outerbridge (D.Warren 66 mins), V.Tankard (Kev. Jennings).

Men of the match: T.Hall (St. George's), Kentoine Jennings (Village).

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.