North Village Red Devils booked themselves safe passage into the semifinals of the Friendship Trophy competition with a workmanlike performance against St.

David's at BAA field last night.

Two goals by Paul Simmons and one each by Sean Dill and Kevin Bailey more than offset strikes by St. David's Garrett Dill and substitute Jerry Laws as the final result had Village clear 4-2 victors.

However it was astonishing in itself that St. David's were able to remain that close, especially considering the way the Red Devils ruled the opening half.

Pinning their opponents in their own half, Village attacked in droves but too often they were snuffed out by a timely tackle or inept finishing.

The first chance came after eight minutes when Islanders goalkeeper Dale Fox fumbled the ball inside the penalty area allowing Elliott Jennings to nip in only to watch as his attempted lob dropped over the crossbar.

Moments later Fox was more decisive in holding onto a solid drive by Kevin Jennings from a 25-yard free kick.

Village were finally able to convert their territorial advantage into a score after 31 minutes when Kevin Jennings burst free along the right flank and crossed for an onrushing Paul Simmons to tap in from close range.

The cheers of the Village faithful would soon subside though as St. David's responded a minute later with a virtual carbon copy of the Village goal.

This time Maxwell Dill found room on the left to centre to Dill who gave Cymande Davis no chance, planting his shot in the top left corner.

As the half neared Village continued to apply pressure. Forwards Simmons, Dill and Elliott Jennings linked well with the midfield to constantly expose holes in St. David's defence while at the other end their own backline had little more than `mop up duty' to perform.

Following the break it took just five minutes before Fox was called on to turn away a dipping long-range effort from Kevin Bailey.

But in the 62nd minute his luck would not be that of the good variety when he could only get a fingertip on a low drive by Kevin Jennings and Dill followed up to punch the ball over the line and restore Village's lead.

This goal triggered a flurry of activity as both sides picked up the pace.

Bailey thundered home a header in the 63rd minute off a right-wing cross by Wayne Augustus and two minutes after that Laws, a second-half substitute for Sherwin Hollis, paid immediate dividends, glancing a header past Davis making it 3-2.

Nevertheless, Village added the final nail with time running down. Fox found Dill's shot from the right too hot to handle and Simmons was again on hand to ram the loose ball home for the final margin.

St. David's: D.Fox; C.Richardson, W.Smith, E.Wolffe, E.Smith; G.Dill, S.Hollis (J.Laws, 61 mins), D.Hollis; S.Pitcher, S.Smith, M.Dill.

North Village: C.Davis; W.Augustus, K.Binns, M.Hansey, R.Edness; S.Coddington, K.Jennings, K.Bailey; S.Dill, E.Jennings, P.Simmons.

Referee: Peter Sousa.

Men of the match: Garrett Dill (St. David's); Kevin Jennings (North Village).