(Vasco win 5-3 on penalties) You can tell when he talks that Kentoine Jennings still has a soft spot for North Village...three years after joining Vasco.

But that doesn't mean the rugged defender doesn't take pride in beating his former team, as shown by his two goals at White Hill yesterday in the winners' bracket of the Dudley Eve tournament.

Jennings' second half equaliser from a header forced the match into penalty kicks (there is no extra-time in this comeptition) and it was fitting on his part that his penalty in the shoot-out sealed the win that earned Vasco the first place in the two-leg final.

And he didn't hesitate when asked who would he prefer to meet in the final.

"I guess I would like to play Village, my former team,'' said the ex-England professional.

"They are a young team and this is a growing year for them.'' As was the case in the recent league match at Bernard Park, Vasco went behind in the first half before fighting back to win. Village's opener came late in the first half -- two minutes into injury time in fact -- when Jamal (Mouse) Smith scored from an angle on the left side of the penalty area, his shot tucked into the far bottom corner.

Injury time came about after the game was held up just 10 minutes earlier for treatment to Daniel Jennings who came out worst after a tackle on Ottis Steede. Steede also needed treatment but Jennings was down the longest before he was carried off by St. John's Ambulance officials with a foot injury to be replaced by Irving Romaine.

Vasco were also forced to make a first half substitution as Sammy Swan limped off with a foot injury to be replaced by Voorhees Astwood who got his first taste of action this season.

During the first half Vasco seldom looked like the team that blasted Boulevard 5-0 just a few days ago as they struggled to string passes together and spent long periods defending.

"Today we got a little cocky,'' admitted Jennings. "We started slow and weren't prepared for the task of playing Village.

"We came into it in the second half when we knew we had to get the goal back.'' The 72nd minute equaliser didn't come as a surprise as Vasco had been dominating from the restart. A corner on the left by Keith Jennings was knocked up in the air in the penalty area and Kentoine Jennings' header towards goal dropped over Gladwin Edness and just under the crossbar.

Vasco kept up the pressure and came close to winning the match in regulation time in the last minute when Astwood placed a low shot just wide from a good position.

That would be the last miss for Vasco as they scored all five of their penalties through Keith Jennings, Ascento Russell, Ottis Steede, Meshach Wade and Kentoine Jennings -- in that order -- while Village's first miss by Elliott Jennings proved decisive. Timmy Figureido judged right and saved to his left to deny Jennings.

After that, goals by Michael Hansey, Cal (Patches) Dill and Jamal Smith kept their hopes alive but the fifth penalty was not needed after Kentoine's kick settled it.

"I've seen some of the best in the world miss in penalty shootouts,'' said Village coach Kenny Thompson in defence of his most senior player.

"On another day Elliott would have put it in the net.'' Now Thompson faces the task of lifting his team for the deciding match against Colts on Friday. He knows another meeting against Vasco will be just as tough.

"`We lost the first game (to Vasco) after leading that game as well, but I've seen some progress on our part in that after 90 minutes they didn't beat us,'' Thompson pointed out.

"We didn't defend well against them the first time but we held them to limited scoring chances today, which was good.'' As for Kentoine Jennings spoiling the day for Village, Thompson said: "He has a job to do. Whatever ties he has with North Village you can't expect any favours from him on the field.'' Vasco: T.Figureido; D.Stapley, Kent.Jennings, P.Towlson, B.Bruce, M.Wade, O.Steede, T.Darrell (T.Caisey 75 mins), S.Swan (V.Astwood 44 mins), A.Russell, Kei.Jennings.

Village: G.Edness; K.Dill, D.Jennings (I.Romaine 40min), M.Hansey, R.Edness, J.Boyles (C.Dill 85 mins), N.Smith J.Jennings, L.Cann (K.Jennings 60 mins), E.Jennings, J.Smith.

Referee: Lyndon Raynor Men of the match: Kentoine Jennings (Vasco), Michael Hansey (Village).

HEADS UP -- Vasco defender Derek Stapley (top) heads clear from North Village's Jamal Smith.

Photos by Tony Cordeiro BEATEN -- Village goalkeeper Gladwin Edness can do little to stop Ottis Steede from finding the net in the penalty shoot-out at White Hill Field yesterday.