North Village 2

Devonshire Colts 1

Despite falling a goal behind early, North Village proved to have the 'better heads' last night as they rebounded smartly to beat Devonshire Colts 2-1 in the first round of the Friendship Trophy.

Second-half headers by Jamaul Boyles and substitute Quincy Paynter wrested the match for Village who withstood an opening half-hour of aggression by the opposition to gradually gain the ascendancy at Devonshire Rec.

So hot off the mark were Colts that they almost scored in the first 20 seconds as Lloyd Holder's diagonal shot narrowly missed the target after a pinpoint pass by Quincy Aberdeen. Shannon Burgess' men did not have to wait long for their initiative to reap success as they went ahead through a thundering shot by Darren Williams in the eighth minute.

The Colts striker ran forward to intercept a ball lofted onto the edge of the box by his skipper and, with a few quick steps, drill it under the diving Zane Hendrickson in Village's goal.

Colts clung to their advantage at the break - but only just as the formidable red-and white army advanced with increasing resolve on each play.

So dominant were Village that for the last 15 minutes of the first half hardly any action took place in their half of the pitch as all Colts players retreated to defend their precious but slender lead.

Village were thwarted in several attempts to square things in the first half. About a minute after Williams scored, Randy Spence denied his former team-mates with a last-ditch clearance off the line while Ralph Bean Jr. had at least three shots miss the bars by no more than a foot or two. A Keishan Bean header too shaved the left post.

However, one could sense the shifting momentum and it was hardly surprising when Boyles sneaked in on the back post to nod home after Dwight (Payback) Warren struck the ball back into the penalty area during a series of goal-mouth scrambles.

That was 1-1 in the 60th minute and the match seemed destined for over-time as Colts, led by Dennis Zuill and McKonnen Hollis, resisted all Village threw their way.

Jawan Thomas, though, had other ideas. The dreadlocked Village defender had been making some spirited incursions into Colts' half. Finally, in the 89th minute, his persistence paid off as a cross from the right flank fortuitously ricocheted from the left upright directly into Paynter's path.

The latter gleefully headed in the winner as Colts goalie Khabir Dill was woefully beaten.

Clearly pleased with his squad's output - and result of course - coach Scott Morton attributed the victory to teamwork and Village's command on the field.

"It's very rewarding to see us play as a team," he said. "We've played other games at a high pace but with no control. Tonight we had greater control which allowed us to exert pressure for the full 90 minutes."

Meanwhile, in the First Division Shield competition, Somerset Trojans took the honours over Wolves 1-0. A blistering volley from Dion Stovell - from the edge of the box in the 16th minute - was the decisive difference between the teams.

Despite dogged determination Wolves could not find an answer. The losers' frustration told as Jermaine Douglas was sent off - for his second offence as he pulled back a goal-bound Dwight Basden late in the match - and four of his team-mates earned yellow cards.

Devonshire Colts: K.Dill, D.Zuill, M.Hollis, S.Burgess, J.Butterfield, R.Spence, J.Belboda (G.Gibbons, 60 mins), M.Bean (J.Dill, 74 mins), L.Holder (A.Zuill, 67 mins), Q.Aberdeen, D.Williams.

North Village: Z.Hendrickson, J.Thomas, L.Alexander, K.Binns, M.Hansey, K.Jennings, K.Bean, J.Boyles. K.Dill (Q.Paynter, 77 mins), R.Bean Jr, D.Warren (T.Outerbridge, 83 mins).

Men of the Match: D.Zuill (Colts); R.Bean Jr (Village).

Referee: S.Crockwell.