North Village got the draw that booked them a place in the semifinals, but there was more a feeling of accomplishment in the Vasco camp after they were forced to battle for the last 20 minutes with nine men.

Frustration showed on the faces of the Village players after they failed to press home the advantage given them when Vasco two key defenders Donovan Livingston and Paul Towlson were ejected for fouls.

The second half started badly for Vasco when Towlson was booked for fouling the league's top scorer Dennis Robinson, a player he had done a good marking job on in the first half.

Five minutes later Livingston was sent packing by referee Stuart Crockwell when he fouled Robinson as he was about to break through on the left side of the penalty area.

That forced Vasco to do some re-organising as Kentoine Jennings was moved from midfield to defence.

Village enjoyed a period of pressure after that and looked certain to take full advantage of a second Vasco sending off in the 70th minute when Towlson fouled Arthur Simons as he, too, was about to get through.

The second bookable offence left Crockwell with no option but to reach for the red card.

Vasco reschuffled even further and were content to hold out for the draw, relying on the occasion break with the long ball out of defence. The draw gives them a slight advantage over Devonshire Colts in their deciding group match on October 18 when they need just a draw to advance.

Vasco showed plenty of fight and determination in the first half and after creating the better of the chances were rewarded with the opening goal in the 35th minute when Kentoine Jennings scored against his former team. Jennings got off a shot from 30 yards that keeper Carlyle Crockwell looked to have covered above his head only to allow the ball to slip through his hands and over the line.

But Village were to pull level a minute before the break when Sean Dill raced through the middle, shook off a challenge from Towlson and planted a low shot past Tucker.

Albert Wolffe replaced the injured Billy Kirkpatrick late in the first half only to be replaced himself early in the second when Vasco were forced to re-organise.

Village: C.Crockwell; A.Simons, K.Simons, C.Roberts, D.Bell; K.Jennings (M.Hansey 67min), N.Smith, E.Jennings, C.Sabir, S.Dill, D.Robinson.

Vasco: K.Tucker; D.Stapley, S.Gibbons, D.Livingston, P.Towlson; K.Jennings, B.Kirkpatrick (A.Wolffe 44min) (F.Simmons 60min), V.Astwood, M.Ray, I.Burgess, D.Basden.

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.

Men of match: Kacy Simons (Village), Kentoine Jennings (Vasco).