North Village's tenure at the top of the Coca Cola First Division proved brief as the Red Devils surprisingly surrendered the leadership with this upset defeat against St. George's yesterday.

Despite controlling much of the game, the home side were felled by a thunderous second half shot off the boot of Jerome Laws that left everyone a spectator as it seared into the top left corner of the net.

"It's always nice to come away and get a victory,'' said St. George's coach Neil Paynter afterwards. "It was a pleasure to see the team actually play constructive football.

"I feel it was a midfield battle and who dominated there would win, and fortunately the team that did that was us.'' The result marked the second triumph in five league matches for St. George's, who moved two places from seventh to fifth in the standings. Both Paynter and goal ace Laws were optimistic of the team's future in the division.

"It's only our second win, but that's okay, we can work from that,'' added Paynter Laws, out of condition after missing several weeks, concurred, saying: "We're going to continue to train hard. The good opportunities will come, our defence is sound, we just need to take our chances.'' Indeed, the outcome might have read quite differently if the home side had grasped their share of scoring chances. They were made to pay for a litany of failed efforts in the first half, with the absence of Dennis Robinson looming large.

Eugene Simmons missed a golden chance to put Village ahead in the 16th minute when he inexplicably side-footed wide from 13 yards after slipping St.

George's goalkeeper Troy Hall to get to a Sean Dill cross.

Another exchange up front moments later resulted in Elliott Jennings similarly firing wide of the mark, with an unguarded goal beckoning.

All the while St. George's were limited to infrequent forays on the Village goal as a makeshift defence held firm against the efforts of clever midfielder Clay Smith and Ricky Hill, the veteran striker.

In the end it took a moment of glory from Laws as he and Herbie Bascome combined in the Village half, with Bascome weaving through a maze of opposing defenders before executing a deft back-heel to the onrushing Laws, whose finishing was first class.

Village slipped to third place on six points with the loss, a point behind joint leaders Somerset and Dandy Town.

North Village: C.Crockwell; K.Simons, K.Grant, D.Bell, C.Roberts, K.Jennings; S.Franks, E.Simmons (D.Rogers 74 mins), N.Smith; S.Dill, E.Jennings.

St. George's: T.Hall; A.Todd, P.Bailey, F.Greaves, D.Bailey (C.Greaves 66 mins); D.Richardson, H.Bascome, C.Smith; J.Laws, L.Robinson, R.Hill.

Referee: Roddy Burchall.

Men of the match: Kevin Jennings (North Village), Herbie Bascome (St.

George's).