Kevin Jennings was tormentor in chief for North Village as they emerged convincing winners over downbeat Devonshire Colts at White Hill Field yesterday.

The pacy wingman netted a pair and had a hand in almost everything his side did.

But things could have been oh so different.

Having raced into a 2-0 half-time lead through Jennings and Quincy Paynter, Marvin Belboda, on as an interval sub, inspired a Colts fightback.

The bull-necked frontman caused havoc in the Village defence enabling Vic Ball to score and then found the net himself with a rocket of a shot.

However, just as it looked like the pendulum had swung the way of the Colts, they missed a chance to take the lead at one end and Jennings raced to the other and exacted the ultimate punishment.

Visibly drained, Colts could not mount a fightback a second time and Jawon Thomas and Keith Jennings wrapped matters up for the Red Devils.

Village's stand-in coach, Kenny Thompson, praised his players' efforts -- especially after their midweek cup exit.

"We have to give our players a lot of credit, first of all because we had to come back from Tuesday night,'' he said. "The first half was very, very easy, we were very dominant. The 2-0 scoreline did not reflect that dominance.

"But I did say to our players at half-time to be aware that Devonshire Colts would come out with a fighting spirit, especially in the first 15 minutes of the second half and if we were not careful they could be right back in the match.

"So we have to give our players credit, again, because after the disappointment of losing a 2-0 lead we found enough energy, skill and awareness to score three more and run out convincing winners.'' The coach said two-goal Jennings had done everything asked of him.

"Kevin can be a very dominant player in most of the matches,'' he said. "We thought today that he would be more effective in a wide position because of the space here at White Hill and we knew with the left back against Kevin, Kevin would dominate the situation.

"He did it to perfection today -- he was a constant threat, scored two goals and was always a threat when in possession of the ball.'' Jennings inspires Village From Page 27 The Red Devils took the game to their opponents from the off -- but it took an injury to Colts' Kevin Simpson for them to fully take charge.

Simpson pulled up with a damaged hamstring while chasing down Jennings. And while the player was off receiving treatment, 10-men Colts succumbed.

A defensive error let in Jennings -- his pace taking him away from challengers -- and he slid the ball under advancing 'keeper, Kevin Bean, in the 25th minute.

Bean kept his side in the match shortly after, first tipping a Tarik Jennings shot around the post and then injuring himself by diving bravely at the feet of Thomas.

He was called on again in the 39th minute to clear from Jennings' feet, but could do nothing about the rebound -- Paynter swivelling neatly before firing home.

Whatever Colts coach, Ray Jones, said at half-time worked, with Belboda thrown on at the expense of Michael Bean.

Within two minutes he caused panic in the six-yard box, creating the space for Ball to rifle home and then six minutes later he unleashed a thunderbolt from out of nowhere that would surely have taken 'keeper Zane Hendrickson's hands off had he got close to it.

Game on -- or so Colts thought.

However, the second turning point of an enthralling match came when Colts' Jermel Belboda cut inside two men, opened up a space to shoot at the edge of the box and instead squared the ball to no-one.

Village seized the initiative, drove down into the Colts half and from there it was all Jennings. The fleet-footed player steamed into the box before striking across Bean and into the far corner.

That was in the 68th minute and it got worse for Colts six minutes later when Thomas sprung the offside trap, won a personal duel with Bean and slotted home.

Sub Keith Jennings rounded off the scoring three minutes from time, dinking a delightful ball over Bean after another defensive error.

Coach Thompson said all eyes would be on his side after this performance.

"I guess it's obvious right now that we are the team to beat,'' he said.

"But it's only October and there's still a long way to go. As we found out on Tuesday night you can play badly once and be eliminated from a competition.

"We have to learn from that situation, not be complacent and take things for granted, continue to work hard and we'll see at the end of the season.'' Colts: K.Bean; S.Burgess; Jermel Belboda; D.Smith; K.Simpson (T.Smith, 27 mins); M.Bean (M.Belboda, 45 mins); V.Ball; Q.Aberdeen; Jermaine Belboda; A.Zuill; C.Hill.

North Village: Z.Hendrickson; J.Thomas; R.Spence; D.Thomas; K.Binns; J.Boyles (Keith Jennings, 65 mins); Kevin Jennings; M.Hawsey; Q.Paynter; D.Warren; T.Jennings (S.Goater, 45 mins).

Referee: S.Crockwell.

Men of the match: Kevin Jennings (Village); M.Belboda (Colts).

Bookings: T.Jennings (Village); V.Ball (Colts).