Dandy Town hit the top of the Premier Division table after they taught champions PHC a footballing lesson at St. John's Field yesterday.

Second-half goals by Devarr Boyles, Raymond Beach and Seyoum Tuzo were just reward for the dominant Hornets, who drew level on points with North Village and displaced the Red Devils at the top of the standings on goal difference.

Town created a series of clear-cut chances in the first period but somehow contrived to miss them all.

But from the moment Boyles made the breakthrough seven minutes into the second half, there looked only one winner.

Town coach Andrew Bascome said: "It's good for us to be top because it shows we're on the right course and this is a good time for us to be competing with the big boys.

"The first half we just battled a little bit, it wasn't real attractive stuff. But once we got the goal we settled.

"What bothers me is that we've picked up a few knocks. But the players that came in did a good job for us today and the team harmony seems to be real good.'' Among the absentees were the influential Paul Cann and the tenacious Lionel Furbert, but even without them Town looked far too good for the Zebras.

The match was a clash of styles, with Town determined to pass the ball to feet all the way into the opponents' penalty area, while PHC preferred to launch the ball long to pressure their opponents.

Town piled on pressure from the start. Carlos Smith's inswinging corner was cleared off the line by Ottis Steede and Devon Binns' stinging 30-yard drive was beaten away by Zebras 'keeper Carlyle Crockwell.

And then the Hornets hit the woodwork twice in two minutes. First, in the 22nd minute, Boyles bravely beat Crockwell to a cross but his volley hit the post and then PHC's Julian Caisey was relieved to see his header bounce away off the same upright from another Carlos Smith corner.

PHC had their moments but with star striker Stephen Astwood playing in midfield, they lacked bite up front and shot poorly, hitting the Gorham's building more often than they tested Town 'keeper Jason Smith.

But 10 minutes before half-time, the Zebras almost grabbed a shock lead when big defender Hadley Tucker rattled the crossbar with a volley from Duval Wilson's corner.

Town then seized back the initiative. In the 52nd minute, Carlos Smith won the ball on the right wing, ran to the by-line and pulled back for the unmarked Boyles to control and side-foot clamly past Crockwell.

Veteran midfielder Boyles then laid on the second goal in the 58th minute with a delightful 40-yard pass which set up a race for the ball between Crockwell and Beach. The Town youngster got there past and tapped into an empty net. On the hour, Beach missed a sitter from 10 yards, having been set up by a brilliant, jinking run from Carlos Smith, but the third goal inevitably arrived in the 72nd minute. A hopeful cross into the PHC box found unmarked substitute Tuzo who whipped a first-time half-volley into the top right-hand corner.

By that time, the Zebras were down to 10 men as Raynel Lightbourne had been helped off clutching his face after an aerial collision with Jason Smith -- just five minutes after he had come on as Sammy Swan's third and final substitute.

This really was a day to forget for the champions.

Dandy Town: J.Smith, D.Christopher, K.Mundy, P.Douglas, D.Binns, C.Smith (S.Tuzo 67 mins), S.Smith, R.Tucker, D.Boyles, R.Beach (K.Hurdle 86 mins), D.Simons.

PHC: C.Crockwell, S.Lewis (H.Tucker 31 mins), R.Lewis, A.Washington, O.Steede, C.Furbert, S.Astwood, J.Caisey (J.Ball 45 mins), M.Smith, T.Darrell, D.Wilson (R.Lightbourne 63 mins).

Men of the match: Carlos Smith (Town); McLee Smith (PHC).

Yellow cards: J.Caisey, H.Tucker (PHC).

Referee: Anthony Mouchette.

Devarr Boyles: broke deadlock.