Dandy Town 2

North Village 1

A goal in each half by Quadir Maynard settled the points at St John’s Field as Dandy Town Hornets made it three wins over North Village in the last month.

The victory enabled Town to reopen a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier Division, after the loss by second-place Robin Hood, while Village, now 12 points behind, are all but out of the title race.

The strong crossfield wind made it difficult for both teams to settle into an early rhythm, although Town went close after just five minutes when Drewonde Bascome’s low, hard cross was just missed at the far post by Angelo Simmons.

Town, who appear to have Village’s number this season after beating them at Bernard Park last month and again last weekend in the FA Cup first round, took the lead in the 35th minute when Maynard’s low shot beat goalkeeper Jason Williams.

Town were forced to make their first substitution just before the interval when defender K’wonde Lathan was injured in a challenge with goalkeeper Jason Williams and limped off to be replaced by Antonio Lowe.

Village had their best chance of the first half in stoppage time through Azende Furbert, a former Town player, when he met Jahzarde Samuels’s cross at the far post but put his effort off target from a good position.

Village began to look more threatening after the restart but it was Town and Maynard who struck again in the 55th minute, Maynard getting on the end of a long ball from a Dominique Williams free kick as Simmons allowed the ball to skim off his head before Maynard converted at the far post.

It just was not Village’s day when Samuels had an effort ruled out for a foul on Mikkail Crockwell, the Town goalkeeper, after both went up for a high ball and Crockwell dropped the ball and injured himself as he fell. Samuels stabbed the loose ball home before the whistle went for the foul.

The visiting side introduced trio Keston Lewis, Keishen Bean and Demetri Daniels from the bench as Village went close again when Lewis’s snap shot brought off a reflex save from Crockwell.

And just when they were starting to impose themselves more on the match, Village suffered another setback when defender Rai Sampson was shown a straight red card for swearing at referee Lyndon Raynor ten minutes from the end.

Town quickly raised their game in a bid to capitalise as Williams blocked a Simmons shot with his legs, then saved at the feet of Tomiko Goater after Bascome fed him a good pass.

Town could easily have been four goals up now, but Village made the scoreline close once again when Bean, who is returning from injury, scored two minutes into stoppage time to cut the Town lead.

A long ball by Zenawi Bowen beat the Town defence after it bounced and Bean kept his composure to tuck his shot into the near post.

It was the third time this season that Town have beaten Village by the odd goal.

“We started both halves brightly, playing high pressure and not letting them settle, so it was a little bit unfortunate that the good chance we created at the end of the first half through Azende Furbert was not put away,” Richard Todd, the Village coach, said.

“That’s been the story for us, this is now the third loss [to Village] for us and all by one goal.

“Hats off to Dandy Town, I thought they worked hard. I’m pleased with the football that we’re playing, we just have to make the next step.

“Even with a player short we were still looking to go for it. For my players they have to stay encouraged and keep their heads up. That’s how you improve.”