Dev.Colts 0 North Village 1

Just like his father Ralph (Gumbo) Bean did in the 1970s and `80s, Ralph Jr scored an important goal for North Village yesterday at White Hill Field.

The 22-year-old college student struck the game's only goal a minute into the second half and then struck the post in the closing minutes as ten-man Village claimed all three points in this top-of-the-table clash.

It was not pretty, but Village coach Scott Morton still welcomed the points.

"Victory was the critical thing because I feel the team that gets six points in the next two matches probably has the better chance of winning the league," said Morton after the match.

"It was important that we came out here with that in mind, and I think we did, even though it wasn't as pretty as we would have liked. The main objective in the end was to get three points and we did that today."

There was little to shout about in the first half for either team, who went into the match tied on 12 points with Devonshire Cougars. Neither goalkeeper - Dwayne Adams nor Cymande Davis - was tested in the opening 45 minutes, as Kevin Jennings' effort from the corner of the box curled wide of the near post.

The only other chance of note was Steven Mendes' shot inside the box which was blocked by Michael Hansey.

"What I told the players after the first half was nothing is going well for either team, but at the same time we must realise that that happens in matches," said the Village coach.

"The best thing to do was to remain calm and sort the situations out individually on the field. Collectively, we really couldn't say it was the defence or midfield's problem - or even the forwards - but just individuals taking care of the ball and making the right decisions."

The second half was just a minute old when Village scored what eventually proved to be the winner. Dwight Warren knocked the ball back into the middle and Bean drove home a low shot from close range after Davis partially blocked the effort but could not prevent the ball from rolling into the far corner.

Colts' top scorer, Aljame Zuill, had a good chance to equalise in the 52nd minute when fullback Gershon Gibbons pushed forward down the right and supplied the cross into the middle where Zuill shot straight at `keeper Adams.

The game sprang to life as Kimande Binns got on the end of a dangerous Kevin Jennings freekick through a crowded penalty area but put his effort wide of the far post.

Village suffered a blow when Tariq Jennings, on the field just eight minutes, was sent off for using foul and abusive language towards referee Cal Simons.

Colts, trying to capitalise, quickly made a double substitution, bringing on Quincy Aberdeen for Ryan Evans and Jason Dill for Jermaine Belboda, with Aberdeen given specific instructions to run at the Village defence.

However, Adams in the Village goal remained largely untested as the champions held on to their slim lead and almost scored a second themselves in the 86th minute when Bean miskicked on the left side of the box but quickly recovered to hit a left-footed shot which struck the far post.

"On a big field like this, which is conducive to us, even though we had ten men, at times it still looked as if we had 11," said Morton.

@SPagatenoindent:Dev.Colts: C.Davis; S.Burgess, S.Waldron, K.Simpson, G.Gibbons, J.Belboda (J.Dill 72 mins), S.Mendes (P.Sampson 80 mins), M.Ray, R.Evans (Q.Aberdeen 72 mins), A.Zuill, L.Holder.

North Village: D.Adams; S.DeShield, K.Binns, K.Jennings, M.Hansey, D.Jennings, K.Jennings, R.Bean, C.Smith (T.Jennings 61 mins), D.DeGraff (K.Dill 72min), D.Warren (D.Coddington 82 mins).

Booked: Daniel Jennings, Kentoine Jennings (North Village); Aljame Zuill (Colts).

Men of the match: Shannon Burgess (Dev.Colts); Kevin Jennings (Village).

Referee: Cal Simons.

'Streaker' Adams, the Bermuda Select goalkeeper who was seen in a Royal Gazette picture during a heated exchange with Jamaica Under-23 players during the final tour match on Wednesday, said the caption that described him as "getting involved in an altercation" was incorrect.

"My reputation is at stake, I was in there pulling guys back and acting as peacemaker," insists the long time Bermuda international.