For the first time this season there was encouragement in defeat for St.

George's as North Village had to hang on for the three points at Bernard Park yesterday.

The outcome of this First Division match did not follow early expectations as Village moved into a comfortable 2-0 lead by the 28th minute on goals from Jamel (Mouse) Smith and Sean Dill. But that sparked a fightback by the East Enders who pulled one back through Clay Smith and then went close to snatching a point in the second half.

This was St. George's' best performance of the season and the presence of Smith in his first match injected new thrust into an attack that had seldom looked like scoring in three previous league matches.

Smith's first contribution, however, was an 11th minute booking for questioning referee Richard Knight's decision not to award him a foul after he went down from a challenge.

The match picked up with full back Dean Bailey shooting just wide of the far post from a free kick and then St. George's goalkeeper, Gregory Smith, was quick off his line to save at the feet of Sean Dill.

Smith was beaten by a screamer from Jamel Smith in the 19th minute when Elliott Jennings knocked the ball back inside the box for Smith, whose left foot shot whistled past the 'keeper.

Goal number two came nine minutes later when Sean Dill started a move with a forward run, took the return pass inside the box and placed a low shot inside the far post.

Village players started using the St. George's goal for target practice after that, firing in shots from anywhere in and around the box as they looked to beat their opponents into submission.

However, it was the East Enders who scored in the 34th minute when another left-foot shot found the net. Dwayne Richardson, also playing his first game of the season, split the Village defence with a pass on the flank for Clay Smith and his volley found the roof of the net despite the effort of goalkeeper Nyon Steede.

Village fans were calling for a third goal four minutes before the half when, after the St. George's defence gave the ball away, Elliott Jennings put a shot from outside the box against the crossbar with 'keeper Smith out of position and beaten.

The ball went straight down as the Village fans behind the net called for a goal. It all happened too quickly and all referee Knight could do was give the benefit of the doubt to the visitors.

Goalkeeper Smith kept St. George's in the game early in the second half with a good save to a Sean Dill shot after Quinton Francis had been twisted every which way and then he blocked another effort before recovering quickly to tip Michael Hansey's header over the bar.

At the other end Clay Smith began causing problems with his left foot as St.

George's enjoyed a period of pressure. Two of the best late chances for the visitors came in the 72nd minute when Smith's low hard cross inside the six yard box was sidefooted wide by Jerry Laws. Then in the 78th minute Smith put a shot against the crossbar following a free kick by Dwayne Richardson.

North Village: N.Steede; R.Spence, K.Dill, D.Bell, K.Grant; M.Hansey, K.Simons (L.Durham 66 mins), J.Smith, E.Jennings, L.Raynor, S.Dill.

St. George's: G.Smith; A.Todd, N.Paynter, Q.Francis, D.Bailey; D.Richardson, D.Whitfield, D.Smith, J.Laws (C.Simmons 74 mins), S.Smith (W.Richardson 63 mins), C.Smith.

Referee: Richard Knight Men of match: Kofi Dill (North Village), Gregory Smith (St. George's).