North Village grabbed a Dudley Eve Trophy spot with this two-goal victory over a jaded Trojans team at Somerset CC yesterday.

While the Red Devils thoroughly deserved the victory which earns them the right to compete in the Christmas holiday tournament, after being only bystanders a year ago, the defeat dropped the home side deeper into the First Division relegation zone.

Tearing the heart out of the Trojans was Damon Wade who scored the first goal, set up the second for Jemeko Jennings and then slammed home the third before being substituted after 73 minutes by coach Kenny Thompson.

With Somerset still without a potent finisher up front their attacks continued to break down outside the penalty area.

Village quickly gained the upper hand but their opening goal was delayed until the 26th minute when Wade steered home a ball from a free kick by Elliott Jennings from outside the left side of the box.

The deserved go-ahead goal put Village completely in charge of proceedings, although the home defence marshalled by skipper Andrew Rahman and Richard Scott held firm.

It was against the run of play that Trojans finally scored -- and it was their first real shot on goal.

After 40 minutes goalkeeper Gladwin Edness handed them a gift when he badly misjudged a chip from outside the left side of the box by Jelani Scott with his Village team-mates watching in disbelief as the ball dipped in between his hands and into the back of the net.

But even that equaliser wasn't enough to spark Somerset when play re-started in the second half.

Village stretched their lead to 2-1 after 58 minutes when Wade's drive from just outside the box was saved by the diving Winslow Williams in the Somerset goal, but the eager Jemeko Jennings was there to slott home the rebound with the greatest of ease.

Then after 71 minutes Wade floored the Trojans for good when he gained possession 25 yards out, and dribbled around two defenders before drilling home a shot from 14 yards.

Somerset: W.Williams; A.Burchall, A.Rahman, R.Scott, S.Riley; D.Rahman (J.Butterfield, 63 mins), F.Simmons, J.Scott (M.Nesbitt, 85 mins); M.Brangman, L.Crofton, R.Wilson (C.Anderson, 73 mins).

North Village: G.Edness; K.Dill, D.Jennings, M.Hansey, R.Edness; J.Samuels (J.Boyles, 39 mins), V.Tankard, J.Jennings; D.Wade (L.Cann, 73 mins), E.Jennings, J.Smith.

Referee: Cal Simons.

Men of the match: Richard Scott (Somerset); Damon Wade (Village).