Devonshire Colts moved into sole possession of first place in the Coca-Cola First Division and booked the first Dudley Eve Trophy spot in the process even though their performance at Frog Lane field never raised above mediocrity.

In this wind-blown and rainy contest, Dandy Town produced the better of the chances and only some bad misses by Carlos Smith and Dennis Robinson denied the visitors both points from a match they dominated.

Fortunately for Colts, the heaviest of the rain showers came five minutes after the match ended as they were able to pocket the point that takes them past idle PHC.

The only thing saving the match from abandonment for bad light were the ground's training lights midway through the second half with light fading quickly.

This match had a tense start with Town rocked by two bad challenges in the first nine minutes. The first, in the fifth minute, should have brought a booking for Yul Wade for a late, harsh tackle on Pernell Douglas who required treatment to his ankle.

Drayton was lenient in that instance as Wade claimed that he played the ball but four minutes later the referee booked Mark Ray for kicking Robinson from behind.

Town had territorial advantage in a scrappy first half and came close to taking the lead in the 28th minute when a ball into the box by George Dyer saw Carlos Smith just fail to connect with his intended header.

Drayton ignored pleas from Town players for a penalty five minutes later when Robinson appeared to have been pushed in the back as he shaped up to head the ball following a Walter Musson corner on the right.

Town had their best chance so far to break the deadlock four minutes into the second half when a ball from Kurt Martin put Smith clear. He got the ball under control and ran into the box before his low shot was saved by the diving Andre Hendrickson.

Robinson missed a good chance himself in the 55th minute when he got clear of the Colts defence on the left side but put his shot wide of the near post as Hendrickson came off his line.

Colts made their two substitutions with Harrison Trott replacing Jermaine Belboda in the 60th minute and player/coach Lorenzo Symonds coming on for Jay Bean to add some experience to the midfield. And the more Town wasted good chances the more likely it seemed that Colts would hit them with a goal on the break.

Still, Anthony Manders was having a quieter time in goal than Hendrickson as Town continued to dominate with substitute Lionel Cann putting a shot over the bar after Martin opened the Colts defence with another pass from midfield.

Town forced a number of corners but could not capitalise as Hendrickson saved a weak shot from Lionel Cann and then watched as Musson's low shot in the closing minutes went just past the far post.

Devonshire Colts: A.Hendrickson; J.Samuels, D.Wright, C.Wright, J.Belboda (H.Trott, 60 mins); J.Bean (L.Symonds, 68 mins), L.Hypolite, M.Ray, Y.Wade, K.Smith, C.Smith.

Dandy Town: A.Manders; L.Christopher, P.Douglas, W.Campbell, W.Rudo; G.Dyer, K.Martin, P.Cann; W.Musson, C.Smith (L.Cann, 65 mins), D.Robinson.

Referee: Frank Drayton.

Men of the match: Andre Hendrickson (Devonshire Colts); Kurt Martin (Dandy Town).