Wolves may not be considered serious title contenders, but they are certainly having a say in the championship race.

Back in December they handed then leaders PHC their first loss, which signalled a Zebras slump. Last night at Devonshire Rec., North Village were beaten in the league for the first time in 2000 when Khari Sharrieff's second half strike lifted Wolves back into third place in the Premier Division standings.

Village coach Kenny Thompson remarked recently how teams seemed to get pumped up when playing the Red Devils and last night Wolves were clearly in the mood for an upset.

From the outset they hustled and fought for everything as Village were tested early. A turn and shot by Nakia Smith in the 21st minute, when he spotted Nyon Steede off his line nearly produced a spectacular goal but the 'keeper, standing on the edge of the six yard box, made a good save to keep the ball from finding the roof of the net.

Minutes later at the other end Cymande Davis had to make amends for a bad kick with a save at the near post to a Neil Robinson volley from the left edge of the box.

Nakia Smith's speed almost produced a goal for Wolves when he beat the advancing Steede to a ball into the box but he didn't see an opening from his angle on the left side of the box as two defenders hustled back and the pass back into the middle saw Nathan Webb put his shot wide.

Wolves remained determined in the second half as Village's defender Jamaul Boyles headed off the line from a corner just two minutes after the restart.

Before the ball was cleared Webb's blast was parried away for a corner by Steede at the near post.

The match winner finally came in the 53rd minute after Steede was blown down for handling a backpass. From the freekick on the right side of the box, Mark Ray hit the ball low and hard to the back post where Sharrieff steered it over the line.

That goal forced Village to raise their game as they began their search for the equaliser. They made a double substitution in the 66th minute, bringing on Sergio Goater and Marlin Dill for Elliott Jennings and Tarik Jennings in a bid to boost their attack.

But few clear cut chances came as Wolves held on. In fact they almost added a second when substitute Vincent Minors hit the corner of the near post with his first touches just a minute after replacing goalscorer Sharrieff.

Wolves: C.Davis; T.Davis, L.Simmons, J.Warren, S.Waldron, A.Davis (C.Smith 58min), A.Thomas, M.Ray, N.Webb, N.Smith, K.Sharrieff (V.Minors 86min).

Village: N.Steede; J.Boyles, Ken.Jennings, K.Dill, J.Thomas, T.Outerbridge, T.Jennings (M.Dill 66min), M.Hansey, E.Jennings (S.Goater 66min), N.Robinson (D.Wade 80min), Kev.Jennings.

Referee: Anthony Mouchette Men of the match: Anthony Thomas (Wolves), Kevin Jennings (Village).

Yellow cards: Nakia Smith (Wolves), Kofi Dill (Village) Rude Girls 9 Dandy Stars 1 Chevonne Furbert scored five second half goals in the space of 13 minutes as Rude Girls turned a 4-0 half-time lead into a rout in the opening women's match.

Tamisha Darrell gave Rude Girls a good start with goals in the eighth and 13th minutes before Sakena Clarke scored the third in the 35th and an own goal by Lisa Robinson made it 4-0.

Once Furbert opened her account she never went more than five minutes without scoring, netting in the 56th, 58th, 63rd, 66th and 69th minutes. Nina Chapman scored the lone goal for Dandy Stars in the 53rd minute.