Butter-fingered Demian Tucker paid the price for a hat-trick of slip-ups against North Village yesterday.

The PHC goalkeeper's failure to gather crosses cleanly gifted three goals to the Red Devils who moved into first place on goal difference over Boulevard.

Village's Sean Dill plundered two of the goals -- one from an inswinging corner.

And powerhouse striker Philip Clarke, a constant menace to PHC's defence, picked up the other.

The victory at PHC Stadium was a welcome New Year pick-me-up for the Red Devils following their drubbing by Dandy Town in the Dudley Eve Trophy finals.

But for PHC it ended a four-match unbeaten run in the league.

The afternoon had promised a different outcome for the home side at the outset.

They carved out a string of chances in the opening skirmishes.

And prospects looked even gloomier for Village when Clarke picked up an injury shortly after the start.

Kentoine Jennings, too, did his side little favour by showing dissent to referee Frank Drayton. He promptly received a yellow card.

When the Red Devils did open their account in the 28th minute it was far from deserved.

It was also the softest of goals.

Elliott Jennings made inroads down the right flank and whipped the ball across the goalmouth.

Tucker appeared to have the ball covered as he came off his line.

But Clarke stuck out a leg and slotted the ball into the net from 10 yards.

The striker nearly helped Village to a second in the 36th minute when he forced a corner.

Sean Dill looped the ball into the area, and Kentoine Jennings headed it just over the bar.

Three minutes later, Sammy Swan nearly covered himself in glory with an ambitious 35-yard shot.

The ball drifted high and to the right, narrowly clearing the bar.

In the 58th minute, Kevin Dill scrambled an equaliser from a few yards out.

The ball came to him after some short passing between substitute Randy Boyles and Sheridan Ming.

PHC's joy was short-lived, however. In the 62nd minute, Sean Dill curled a corner in from the left, which appeared to deceive Tucker.

The 'keeper only managed to help the ball into the back of the net.

Dill struck again in the 87th minute after Tucker failed to hold a cross from Wendell Bassett. It was the simplest of tap-ins.

PHC: D.Tucker, D.Outerbridge, B.Bean, M.Dill, B.Simons, K.Dill, S.Swan, K.Mills, S.Ming, D.Wolffe, R.Lightbourne (R.Boyles, 50 mins).

North Village: C.Crockwell, D.Bell, W.Bassett, K.Simons, K.Jennings, S.Franks, S.Dill, R.Edness, E.Jennings, P.Clarke (P.Simmons, 60 mins), E.Simmons.

Referee: Frank Drayton.

Men of the match: Kenny Mills (PHC); Sean Dill (North Village).