North Village opened their new campaign with a comfortable victory at Bernard Park, but it took something special to rescue them from mediocre against a green PHC side.

Forward Kevin Jennings, who was a threatening presence for much of the game, collected a pass from 35 yards out and struck a curling, right-foot shot that left Ty Williams flailing in the PHC goal.

That put Village up 3-1 and just about took the steam out of the young Zebras side, who were brought back into the game when goalkeeper Anthony Swan gifted them a goal.

Sheldon Franks completed the scoring to add to earlier goals from Tito Smith and Philip Clark.

It was Village's second successive win after a Martonmere Cup triumph over Dandy Town. But the lapses they had before and after taking a 1-0 half-time lead were enough to leave the coaching staff thinking there is more work to do.

PHC, on the other hand, are in more dire straits as they started six teenagers yesterday and will be counting heavily on the influence of Sammy Swan, 'keeper Williams and skipper Mike Dill, who was fortunate not to be sent off late in the match when he retaliated against Village substitute Sherritt Hewey.

Village should have opened the scoring after five minutes after some neat work on the right by Kevin Jennings. The youngster beat his left-back, Blenn Bean, turned inside Dill and then slotted the ball to the onrushing Elliott Jennings who blasted well over.

Elliott made up for his miss in the 20th minute when he provided the first goal from a similar position as did the younger Jennings.

But this time Tito Smith's right boot was on the end of the cross and the finish was precise as Williams had no chance.

Village appeared very organised for much of the first half with the new partnership of Kentoine Jennings and Derek Bell growing in strength in the middle of the defence.

PHC had little going for them and the only shot on goal was improvised by striker Raynel Lightbourne whose volley from a long throw was saved by Swan.

On the stroke of half-time, Kevin Jennings caught the PHC defence flat-footed with a fine pass to Clarke, but the big striker turned the ball over the top with Williams at his mercy.

Village were clearly worth more than the one-goal lead they took into the break and almost instantly after they made it 2-0.

PHC's defence was opened by some good passing and Clarke held off Blake Simons after taking Elliott Jennings' cross to score with a low drive from 18 yards at Williams' near post.

The crowd, which braved intermittent drizzle throughout, expected Village to run rampant now. But what followed were their worst moments and the match turned into little more than a glorified kickabout.

Sammy Swan, who dropped into midfield early on, was PHC's most effective player and he drove them forward as Village's midfield went to sleep.

The unlikely goal came in the 61st minute when a ball was played forward to Lightbourne under pressure from Kentoine Jennings.

Village appeared to be let off the hook when it ran free to the 'keeper, but Lightbourne was credited with PHC's first goal of the season when young Swan took his eyes off the ball as he tried to control it with his feet.

The goal gave the Zebras life and they forced Village into some desperate defending before Jennings' gem stopped them in their tracks.

Still stunned, PHC gave up a fourth in the 80th minute when Franks went on a run, appeared to over-run the ball and received a fortuitous bounce when Dill attempted to clear. He finished calmly when left in front of Williams.

The only action after that were two failed attempts by Rahji Edness to get on the end of crosses from Kevin Jennings and Hewey, a Kentoine Jennings drive that Williams saved, and then the double bookings to Hewey and Dill.

North Village: A.Swan; A.Simons, K.Jennings, D.Bell, K.Grant; R.Edness, S.Franks, E.Jennings; T.Smith (S.Hewey, 85 mins), P.Clarke (S.Dill, 55 mins), K.Jennings.

PHC: T.Williams; B.Bean, M.Dill, B.Simons, D.Outerbridge (M.Gilbert, 14 mins); N.Simons, O.Steede, T.Russell (D.Wolffe, 59 mins); S.Stovell, S.Swan, R.Lightbourne.

Referee: Roddy Burchall.

Men of the match: Kevin Jennings (North Village); Sammy Swan (PHC).

BEST FOOT FORWARD -- Tito Smith, far right, put North Village out in front with a right-foot volley.