North Village jumped two places to third, keeping alive admittedly slim hopes of a First Division championship with this battering of cross-town rivals Devonshire Cougars in a rough and tumble affair at Bernard Park yesterday.

The home side started slowly but gradually managed to get their engines revved, spelling doom for Cougars, who by the end resembled a corroded, roadside wreck.

Contributing to their erosion was two goal hero Elliott Jennings, along with Nakia Smith, Randy Spence and substitute Kaiwon Dill, all of whom managed one apiece.

Yet it could have been worse, as Village -- Dill in particular -- should have further padded their goal average.

The visitors started well enough, forcing two corners in the opening minute of play and dictating much during the early proceedings as Village went through the motions.

But the scenario would soon change dramatically.

Bad judgment by Cougars' goalkeeper Leon Place of a Kevin Jennings corner nearly resulted in a goal after 16 minutes, the ball bounding off the upright with the follow-up effort blasted well over by Irving Romaine.

Moments later Jennings landed awkwardly on his right knee to end his day, being replaced by Larance Durham.

Ironically, his departure served as a wake-up call, with Village suddenly playing with more urgency.

Elliott Jennings and Sri Wilson conspired to free Spence for a scoring chance in the 24th minute, catching Cougars napping during a sudden counter attack, but Spence muffed the opportunity.

Increasingly Cougars were exposed for defensive inadequacy, Wilson, Jennings and Durham able to stretch the rear guard to breaking point until finally it snapped.

Spence baffled Place and his defenders in the 35th minute, selling a dummy of Jennings' low, left wing corner that opened up Smith for a simple tap-in from five yards.

Cougars entered the dressing room at half-time bickering among themselves, despite only being a goal down.

This animosity heightened as their woes doubled immediately following the restart, a seemingly harmless drive by Spence from the edge of the penalty area taking a wicked deflection off the leg of sweeper Sheldon Caisey and trickling past Place, left wrong-footed.

Spence and Smith would waste prime opportunities in the 52nd and 56th minutes, as Village continued to press forward.

Meanwhile, Cougars were limited to infrequent forays between stabs, but nothing to bother goalkeeper Dwayne Adams, who would later leave the confines of the goal area to take up a striker position.

Further ignominy came when Sheldon Caisey was given his marching orders by referee Lyndon Raynor in the 59th minute for punching an opponent.

Jennings laid on the moves to score his first after 65 minutes, weaving left to right inside the area, leaving defenders in his wake before neatly tucking the ball inside the near post.

The veteran forward made it 4-0 as a shell-shocked Place allowed a gentle, curling shot to slip from his grasp and land in the back of the net.

Completing the rout was substitute Dill, who after missing a myriad of chances after replacing Wilson earlier on, finally came good on a solo move.

The victory gave Village third place on 22 points by virtue of superior goal difference to Dandy Town and Boulevard.

North Village: D.Adams; A.Simons, D.Bell, I.Romaine, K.Dill; M.Hansey, N.Smith (N.Rawlins 76 mins), R.Spence; K.Jennings (L.Durham 26 mins), S.Wilson (K.Dill 68 mins), E.Jennings Devonshire Cougars: L.Place; W.Martin (G.Georges 76 mins), K.Swan, S.Caisey, M.Dill; W.Salaam, S.Coddington, R.Swan (G.Dyer 55 mins); P.Clark, G.Butterfield (C.Campbell 65 mins), D.Brangman, P.Clark Referee: Lyndon Raynor Men of the Match: Elliott Jennings (North Village), Devon Brangman (Devonshire Cougars)