North Village 0 Dev. Colts 3 Leave the panic button alone -- North Village are not ready to throw in the towel yet, coach Scott Morton has declared.

Comprehensively beaten by Devonshire Colts at Bernard Park yesterday, the Red Devils have now traded places with their long-time foes in the race for the title.

Two Aljame Zuill crackers and a third from Lloyd Holder powered Colts into second in the Premier League, a point clear of Village and two behind Dandy Town.

But Morton, who has lifted two trophies already this year in his first season has coach, is not ready to concede the championship just yet.

"There's no room for panic. On any given day anyone can win,'' he said. "We have to keep our heads high, our spirits high and recognise that this is the type of pressure that we have put on certain teams. We have to recognise that when our backs are against the wall we have to come out fighting.'' Goal hero Zuill, meanwhile, said observers could not fail to recognise the Premier League was a three horse race, and one Colts were well able to win.

"If we can stay consistent we will be alright. We have just got to tough it out,'' he said.

That consistency has been lacking at various points in the season, but yesterday it all came together despite Village having the better of the opening period.

Indeed, Jamaul Boyles had a good opportunity to give them the lead after 10 minutes, but he got under a cross and his header from six yards sailed over.

Village had by far the greater amount of possession early on but they weren't able to force the breakthrough and Zuill made them pay for their profligacy in the 39th minute.

Latching onto a ball just outside the box, he hit it first time and saw it swerve viciously in front of 'keeper Zane Hendrickson before finding the net.

That seemed to take some of the fight out of the Red Devils and they went 2-0 down just four minutes into the second half.

A free kick close to half-way was pumped to the back of the box and Zuill watched it before unleashing an unstoppable volley into the far corner.

Village began to lose their composure and Colts took advantage, teasing their opponents and drawing fouls which caused home tempers to fray further.

Zuill missed a chance for his hat-trick when he headed over from close range, but another goal was not long in coming.

A scramble in the box ended with sub Holder striking home and cementing a victory which Colts milked to the max.

Morton was magnanimous in defeat.

"Our players didn't keep their heads under pressure and it shows what happens when that occurs,'' he said.

"Colts wanted it more. Knowing we had beaten them four times before, obviously they didn't want to make it a fifth time.

"But our players still have to know how to remain composed and calm at all times, no matter what the circumstances. I tell them all the time even if we are 3-0 or 4-0 down you have to stick to the concept because a game is 90 minutes and anything is possible.'' The coach said the score in no way flattered Colts.

"I think it was a fair result. They converted their chances and got their goals. That's what cup teams and good teams do on occasions,'' he said.

Basking in the glory, Zuill said this was a game Colts had been determined to win.

"They have been beating up on us for a little while so we had to put our best foot forward and look to come away with a good victory,'' he said.

He said coach Ray Jones had complained his strikers had not been doing their jobs, but they had answered him back in the best possible way recently.

"Everybody has been teasing me because I've been in a little slump, but I tell them I'm back now,'' he said.

A one minute silence was observed before the game in memory of James Flood, a founder member of North Village Community Club and first president.

Village: Z.Hendrickson; J.Thomas; A.Simons; Kentoine Jennings; M.Hansey; J.Boyles (Kevin Jennings, 53 mins); S.Goater (Keith Jennings, 53 mins); K.Binns; T.Outerbridge (Q.Paynter, 71 mins); D.Warren; N.Robinson.

Colts: K.Bean; Jermel Belboda; S.Burgess; D.Zuill; K.Simpson; K.Burchall; J.Samuels; Jermaine Belboda (Q.Aberdeen, 81 mins); V.Ball (M.Belboda, 69 mins); A.Zuill; C.Hill (L.Holder, 62 mins).

Yellow cards: D.Warren, J.Thomas (Village); V.Ball, K.Simpson, K.Bean, M.Belboda (Colts).

Men of the match: M.Hansey (Village); S.Burgess (Colts).

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.

Morton makes his mark -- Page 27