A share of the lead was at stake in this Premier Division match — but neither team did enough to take all three points last night at Somerset.

In fact, a point was probably all they deserved after a lacklustre performance in front of a sparse crowd.

Games between these two former giants of local football usually produce exciting encounters but there was little of that in this clash as both sides remained in mid-table, hardly looking serious title contenders based on this showing.

Village created the best chances but their finishing was lacking as they went a third-straight league game without scoring, though they did end a run of three straight losses in league and cup matches.

They almost took the lead in the nineteenth minute when Jahron Dickinson drove his effort across goal from a sharp angle after a good move down the left flank by Village had opened up the Trojans defence.

Village enjoyed a good spell of pressure midway through the half but Somerset gradually began to threaten as Vashun Blanchette’s effort from 25 yards forced a good diving save from Mishael Paynter, who had a rare start in the Village goal.

The defender-turned-goalkeeper certainly looked competent as he went full stretch to his left to make a one-handed save.

The pace of Dickinson and Keishen Bean, the Village top scorer, was causing problems for the Somerset defence and another good chance fell to Dickinson on the half-hour when a pass put him clear of the defence before he volleyed his first-time shot side of the post.

Not much changed after the restart as the crowd waited patiently for a bit of magic to lift the match. Smith wasted probably Village’s best chance of the match in the 72nd minute when a pass by substitute Jahzarde Samuels put him clear with just the goalkeeper to beat but the striker poked his effort inches wide from 18 yards. The draw left the two teams on eight points from six games, both with identical 2-2-2 records and tallies of eight scored and seven conceded.

However, they will consider it two points dropped as they missed the chance to join PHC Zebras and St George’s Colts at the top on ten points.

The Zebras and Colts both have the chance to take over sole possession of first place this weekend.

St George’s face Flanagan’s Onions tonight at Goose Gosling Field, while PHC are away to Devonshire Cougars tomorrow.