(after extra time) FA Cup kings Boulevard had their crown knocked sidewise during a see-saw battle royal with North Village yesterday.

Playing the role of grand pretenders, the Red Devils launched a mighty second-half effort to dethrone Boulevard.

They twice came from behind, forcing the game into extra time with a last-gasp goal from an airborne Ricky Hill.

The striker rose above Boulevard's defence to nod the ball home after a perfect cross from substitute Paul Simmons.

It cancelled out a majestic goal 16 minutes earlier from Boulevard's all-action Clinton Caisey, who beat Dwayne Adams with a deft chip.

But the heroics were not enough for Village to win out in this quarter-final tussle at St. David's.

Their strength sapped by heat and relentless running, neither side could break the deadlock in extra time, although Village's Sean Dill fired just over the crossbar in the dying moments.

So, Boulevard held grimly on to their crown -- just.

And the stage is set for another battle royal between the kings and the grand pretenders. The replay date and venue is yet to be determined.

Those expecting great things in a match between the FA Cup holders and the league leaders were not disappointed.

The game appeared to grow in intensity after the opening skirmishes.

Both sides came out bloodied by recent defeats -- Boulevard have lost their last two league matches, and Village were shocked last week by unfancied Vasco.

Injuries have also played havoc with the teams' Cup preparations.

It was understandable, therefore, the sides should feel each other out initially.

Village had an early setback when goalkeeper Carlyle Crockwell was carried off with a leg injury. He was replaced by Adams.

Striker Kenny Hill's scrappy 27th-minute goal followed a build-up after a Dean Boyles corner.

He struck from close range, the ball coming off a defender's legs and deceiving Adams.

Dwight Warren should have given Boulevard a two-nil cushion minutes later when Herbie Bascome whipped the ball across to him from the left.

But Warren, who had by his high standards an indifferent afternoon, failed to connect in front of goal.

Strangely, Warren's woes were matched at the other end by Village's normally dynamic striker Philip Clarke, who only came alive in the second half.

In the dying minutes of the first half, Kenny Hill went close when Caisey slipped the ball to him five yards from goal.

Village made the perfect start to the second half.

In the 52nd minute, defender Kevin Jennings floated the ball into the area from a corner.

Hill, always a dangerman with his head, nodded the ball down to Elliott Jennings who fired home.

Caisey's 72nd-minute goal was one that will live in the memory.

The midfielder was put into striking range by the excellent Shivaughn Smith, who threaded the ball between two defenders and beat the offside trap.

Caisey, from about 20 yards, chipped over the advancing Adams.

It was then left to Ricky Hill to tie the game up.

Village's assistant coach Robert Calderon described the game as a "typical FA Cup'' battle.

One of Village's ploys was to use Kentoine Jennings to blunt the firepower of Kenny Hill.

Afterward, Boulevard's coach Gary Mallory applauded Village for their resilience.

"We slackened off and allowed them to get a late equaliser. We knew that we had to be prepared for them in the second half, realising that they would come at us hard and they did.'' Boulevard: L.Tucker, W.Richardson, G.Smith, D.Boyles, A.Brown, C.Pearman, H.Bascome, C.Caisey, S.Smith (V.Eve, 96 mins), D.Warren, K.Hill.

North Village: C.Crockwell (D.Adams, 20 mins), K.Jennings, R.Edness, D.Bell, K.Simons, E.Jennings, A.Bascome, R.Hill, S.Dill, P.Clarke (P.Simmons, 80 mins).

Referee: Rex Osborne.

Men of the match: Clinton Caisey (Boulevard); Ricky Hill (North Village).

HEROES -- Ricky Hill, left, scored with a header late in regulation time to cancel out Clinton Caisey's gem, which looked like putting Boulevard into the semifinals.