The wet and blustery conditions at St. Johns Field came out the winner yesterday as Dandy Town and North Village fought to a goalless draw in First Division play. With both teams struggling to lock up a place in the upcoming Dudley Eve Trophy, the result did little to move either team further up in the standings.

Home field advantage should have paid dividends for the Hornets as they easily controlled the majority of play in the first half. Aided by the strong wind at their backs, the Town players pushed deep into their opponents' half of the field continually, forcing the Red Devils to concentrate solely on defending.

They proved up to the task though as centreback, Michael Hansey beautifully marshalled the back four to deny Town any success.

In the first minute of play Lionel Cann latched onto the ball on the edge of the Village area and turned perfectly to lift a dipping volley at the goal but goalkeeper Cymande Davis was well placed though to snatch the ball out of the air.

Carlos Smith came close minutes later when his well-taken header was tipped over the crossbar by Davis. Smith was unlucky right after the restart when the 'keeper was drawn out of position and the striker's shot was cleared off the goal-line by Arthur Simons.

With the strong wind in their faces the Red Devils worked hard to penetrate the Town defence and goal scoring chances were few and far between. Fine off-the-ball running by Paul Simmons created a glaring hole for him to race at goal with the ball at his feet. His well driven shot though rammed right into the chest of Anthony Manders who had advanced quickly to turn away the challenge.

Davis was kept busy in the Village goal, being called upon to make several clutch saves to keep his team in the match. Late in the first half Cann connected with a hard shot from close that the 'keeper managed to punch clear of the goal. The closest call came only seconds later when George Dyer darted down the right flank to drill a vicious, low cross into the heart of the Village six yard box. The cross beat the 'keeper who, though sprawled out on the ground, managed to collect the pass that was deftly tapped back to him by Hansey.

The pace of Town frontrunners Stevie Wade and Cann always looked dangerous to the Village defence. Wade, on the right wing, continually provided telling crosses into the Village area that gave his teammates scoring opportunities that unfortunately were all wasted. In the 62nd minute Wade drilled a terrific cross but could only hang his head and watch it elude all of his teammates as the ball skipped through the Red Devils' six yard box.

Simons proved to be the visitors' saviour once again when he was on hand to clear another goal-bound shot from Cann off his own goal line with Davis beaten on the play. From the resulting cornerkick Town's centreback Wayne Campbell wasted a golden chance when he rammed his unchallenged header well wide of the target. Sustitute Dennis Robinson came close to justifying his inclusion in the game only seconds from the end with a snap shot that skimmed past the post.

Town were almost made to rue their lack of finish when Simmons had the best chance to put the match away for the Red Devils.

The speedy striker beat his defender just inside the Town half of the field and was presented with a free run at the goal with the 'keeper at his mercy.

But it was not to be, as he ran the ball too far at the goal and Manders smothered it beautifully at his feet.

Dandy Town: A.Manders, W.Rado, L.Furbert, W.Campbell, B.Douglas, G.Dyer, K.Martin, W.Musson, L.Cann (F.Simmons 71 min.), C.Smith (D.Robinson 81 min.), S.Wade.

North Village: C.Davis, A.Caisey (W.Augustus 57 min.), A.Simons, M.Hansey, K.Binns, K.Jennings, C.Castle, C.Caisey, S.Dill (J.Smith 76 min.), T.Smith, P.Simmons.

Men of the Match: Stevie Wade (Dandy Town), Michael Hansey (North Village).

Referee: Frank Drayton.