In giving a clinic to St. George's Colts at Bernard Park, North Village moved to within a point of clinching a place in the Dudley Eve Trophy tournament yesterday.

But the clinic didn't come free of charge to the visiting Colts as the price they pay is having to win their next two matches to be certain of qualifying for the holiday competition as well as staying in touch with front-runners Vasco and Village.

St. George's, third coming into the weekend's top fixture, found Elliott Jennings in sumptuous form and that translated into one of the more complete Village performances in an improving season.

But it was the footwork of young winger Jamel Smith that brought about the two goals, causing the penalty that Jennings converted in the first half and delivering the pass that opened the door for Sean Dill to score in the second.

St. George's, without top scorer Clay Smith and Dean Minors who were both away on international cricket duty, started the match with a decided hunger.

But once Village settled into their style of play, where every player was comfortable on the ball, St. George's were reduced to chasing shadows.

Marlon Outerbridge, whose cracking strike helped inflict the season's only defeat on Vasco, had the game's first offering in the fifth minute, but his right-foot shot from 25 yards twisted over.

A few minutes later, Stevie Dickinson was in behind the Village defence on the left with the ball falling nicely for him. The ensuing shot had some power to it, yet Dwayne Adams was hardly tested in making his first save.

And after an Arthur Simons miskick in a dangerous position in the 11th minute, Jerry Laws shot wide on the turn.

For a side lacking all their attacking options, St. George's needed to make the most of these opportunities. They did not, and were virtually run off the park the rest of the way.

Village's Nakia Smith shot into the side-netting from 20 yards after slipping Quinton Francis in the 13th minute and, four minutes later, Jamel Smith shot weakly at Troy Hall after beating Dean Bailey.

The latter sequence would prove to be significant as Village exploited Jamel Smith's dominance of the former Under-23 full-back.

Time and again, Smith went by his man but plays lost their sting due to over-reliance on his favoured left foot.

Meanwhile, Damon Wade -- in his best game of the season -- had a double attempt foiled on 19 minutes, the first shot charged down and the snap volley going just wide of the left upright.

Jamel Smith was put free on the right by Derek Bell in the 22nd minute and with only the advancing Hall to lob, he opted for the left foot which made a hash of it.

Kevin Grant had a long-range drive easily saved by Hall and Jennings' low cross went untouched through the goalmouth before St. George's threatened again in the 33rd minute.

Ricky Hill, having shaken his marker, rose well to meet a Laws cross but his header from the edge of the area was just over with Adams well placed.

Then, just when it seemed Village's decision to persevere with left-sided Jamel Smith on the right was a mistake, the youngster pulled something out of the hat.

He beat three players cutting in from near the corner flag, but the third, Dean Bailey, tripped him, leaving referee Richard Knight no option but to point to the spot.

Goalkeeper Hall chose left and Jennings calmly slotted the kick into the bottom of the other corner for a deserved lead.

St. George's had two half-chances before the break, Hill putting a looping header over and Neil Paynter picking out Adams' chest with a free kick.

Village's second goal came only four minutes after the interval but they first had to survive a scare when Cal Dill lost possession seconds upon the restart.

Dickinson raced down the left and fired in a cross for Derek Wright, who was well defended by Michael Hansey.

Hansey was injured inn the process, but once he recovered the centre-half made the pass that sprung Jamel Smith behind the Colts defence.

Hall raced off his line to intercept but Smith lobbed him with his trusty left foot into the path of Sean Dill who was covered by Franklyn Greaves.

But the goalscorer in Dill saw him react better, stooping down to bravely head the ball over the line and provide the margin of victory.

Hall did well to keep his net unruffled until the close as Village attacked in droves; not because St. George's had given up, but because they were simply outclassed.

Nakia Smith got the better of Hall once but Dean Bailey made the saving tackle, then the 'keeper forced Jamel Smith wide after splendid inter-play involving Jennings and Wade.

Dill should have added his second in the 67th minute but was late on his run after Jennings had ghosted past Paynter and taken Hall out of the play with his cross.

For all Village's endeavour, the classiest moment came from a St. George's player after the home team intentionally knocked the ball out of play so an injured team-mate could be treated.

Derek Wright received the throw-in and instantly booted it into touch. This show of sportsmanship, which drew applause, is the norm all the world over but is very rarely seen on local fields.

Wright's example was indeed a step in the right direction.

North Village: D.Adams; A.Simons, D.Bell, M.Hansey, K.Grant; D.Wade, C.Dill, E.Jennings; N.Smith, S.Dill, J.Smith.

St. George's: T.Hall; D.Bailey, F.Greaves (D.Whitfield, 50 mins), N.Paynter, Q.Francis, P.Bailey; M.Outerbridge, D.Wright; S.Dickinson, R.Hill (M.Simmons, 77 mins), J.Laws.

Referee: Richard Knight.

Men of the match: Elliott Jennings (North Village), Neil Paynter (St.

George's).

I SURRENDER -- Elliott Jennings, who put North Village ahead with a penalty, attempts to get matters under control, tightly marked by Derek Wright of St.

George's.

Photos by Tamell Simons PASSING THE BUCK -- North Village's Sean Dill (left) tries to get the better of Franklyn (Bucky) Greaves during first-half action at Bernard Park with Jamel Smith in support. Dill netted Village's second goal in a 2-0 win.