North Village blew the Premier Division title race wide open by outplaying leaders PHC at Somerset on Saturday night and slashing their lead to a solitary point.

An early goal by Kevin Jennings, supplemented by two from Dwight Warren, proved enough to give the Red Devils three crucial points in this clash of first-placed against second.

For Village it was sweet revenge after already having lost twice to the Zebras this season including a 3-2 Boxing Day defeat at St. George's in the Dudley Eve Trophy.

Village laid the foundations for a deserved triumph in the first half hour when they passed the ball around skilfully and Kevin Jennings caused mayhem with his pace on the right wing, as PHC were reduced to chasing shadows.

Although Village could not maintain that level of dominance as PHC battled back into the match, their early purple patch produced a two-goal lead which proved decisive.

Delighted Village coach Kenny Thompson said his team had gone out feeling there was a score to settle.

"We've lost twice to PHC this season because we made too many mistakes,'' said Thompson. "In the first game, I missed a penalty and in the second one at Wellington Oval we made three mistakes and they all cost goals.

"The players were determined to get a result and set the record straight. We knew that if we could minimise the mistakes, we could beat PHC.'' Village started superbly and in only the second minute Zebras 'keeper Jaylee Smith was forced into action. Tafari Outerbridge burst through the heart of the PHC defence, but Smith dived bravely at his feet to thwart him.

Two minutes later, Village took the lead when Kevin Jennings cut inside from the right wing and hit a low, left-footed drive just inside the near post.

A mistake by PHC defender Michael Williams led to Village's second goal in the 13th minute. Williams gave the ball away to Warren who sent Neil Robinson away down the left wing. His low cross found Kevin Jennings who fired across goal for Warren to slide home from close range.

The Red Devils were strutting their stuff, moving the ball around rapidly and stylishly, using the full width of the pitch.

And they could have had more goals, but Jamaul Boyles blazed high and wide from 15 yards and then Kevin Jennings saw his shot-on-the-turn fizz just wide of the post.

The Zebras came more into the game late in the first half and almost scored three minutes before the interval when Raynel Lightbourne linked with McLee Smith and saw his goalbound shot headed over his own bar by Kentoine Jennings.

Two minutes after the break PHC pulled one back. Stanton Lewis was fouled on the edge of the box by Kimandi Binns and from the resulting free-kick Dano Outerbridge's low shot was deflected by Village defender Arthur Simmons and crept into the net.

But within six minutes, PHC were two goals behind again. Kentoine Jennings sparked the move, looking like a natural born libero as he ran with the ball from his own penalty area to within 20 yards of the PHC goal. Jennings fed Outerbridge and the ball was half-cleared only as far as Warren, who volleyed home from 18 yards.

PHC came back strongly and Village keeper Zane Hendrickson produced a brilliant save to deny Lightbourne before substitute Stephen Ast Village glee -stitute Stephen Astwood hit the woodwork twice, first with a shot from a narrow angle against the post and then with a clever chip onto the bar after a sharp turn which fooled two defenders.

But Village, who seemed quite happy to sit on their lead, defended well to establish themselves as strong title contenders.

Thompson said: "If we had lost this game, we would have been seven points off the lead with eight games to play, but now we are just a point behind and back in business.

"The last few years Vasco have been very strong and they have almost sewn things up by this stage. But this year it's more interesting. Several clubs could win it, particularly ourselves, PHC, Vasco, Dandy Town, or Colts.'' PHC: J.Smith, C.Dowling, D.Outerbridge, R.Lewis, M.Williams (S.Trott 76 min), O.Steede, S.Lewis, B.Bean, D.Wilson (S.Astwood 58 min), M.Smith, R.Lightbourne.

Village: Z.Hendrickson, N.Dill, R.Spence (K.Binns 45 min), Ken.Jennings, J.Boyles, Kev.Jennings, M.Hansey, T.Outerbridge (E,Jennings 67 min), D.Warren, N.Robinson.

Men of the match: Stanton Lewis (PHC); Kentoine Jennings (Village) Yellow cards: Lightbourne (PHC) Referee: Richard Knight