WHILE three other teams in each division of the Dudley Eve competition battle for survival this weekend, North Village and Hamilton Parish can put their feet up and await their opponents for Tuesday's finals.

The Rams and Peppers took the quickest route to their respective finals on Wednesday at Wellington Oval ¿ Village stopping Devonshire Cougars 4-1 after Cougars captain Kwame Steede had a first-half penalty saved by the Village 'keeper Jason Williams and Parish getting a late headed winner from Jamie Smith to clinch a 2-1 win over Southampton Rangers.

Rangers had battled back and forced an equaliser but their hopes of a penalty shoot-out were dashed when an intended long kick upfield by goalkeeper Gerald Simons from a backpass sliced off the 'keeper's boot and Smith headed into an empty goal from near the edge of the penalty box.

The results mean that while Village and Parish advance to the final on New Year's Day, Cougars and Rangers will have to play an extra match on Sunday in their bid to reach the final.

Village assistant coach Clyde Best admitted afterwards the penalty save was a critical moment for Village whose ace-in-the-box proved to be substitute Keith Jennings who broke the deadlock early in the second half. By the time Cougars got on the scoresheet at 3-1 through their captain the game was virtually over.

"I thought the guys did some good stuff today," said Best who was delighted with the effort of his players.

"The boys in college came back and when we have those sorts of players we are a dangerous team. I think it (penalty miss) probably helped but I still think with what we've got, when they want to play they are capable of coming back, even if they had scored the penalty."

Village, second to PHC in the league, are in a good position to make a push for silverware in 2008. Victory on the first day of the year would be a perfect way to start.

"We set out at the beginning of the season that we wanted to be in finals and win things and we're doing the right things so we're happy with the guys," said Best who joined Village this year as Elliott Jennings' right-hand man.

The margin of victory was bigger than many expected as Cougars paid for missed chances.

"When these guys are playing to their capability anything's possible, they are that good as players," said Best who singled out college student Keishen Bean for praise after his two-goal performance.

"Keishen comes on and makes it look easy. His first goal was clinical, a little chip over the top, and that's what we have probably been missing all year. If we had somebody like that on a regular basis we would be that much further ahead."

Keith Jennings brought his experience and know-how to the team as a first half substitute. Reluctance to change their winning team from the first game meant that Jennings had to settle for a spot on the bench before coming into the action after 25 minutes.

"We didn't start him because he didn't play the last game and it wouldn't have been fair to the guys who played in the game," Best explained.

"He's a very important part of our plans and he does well for us whenever he comes on. We know what Keith is capable of doing."

Cougars probably left Wellington Oval relieved that they won't have to play there again in this tournament as the ground may be turning out to be a bogey venue for them. In last season's final they were hammered 3-0 by Somerset Trojans and this week went down by the same margin after Village matched them for skill and determination.

The first teams will be eliminated tonight at the NSC when the teams from the losers' bracket compete. Narrow losers Somerset Eagles and St. David's meet in the 7.00 First Division opener with league leaders PHC taking on Dandy Town in the feature match at 9 p.m.

The winners from tonight's matches will advance to meet Cougars and Rangers in the semi-final on Sunday also at the NSC to determine the last two finalists for New Year's Day at the NSC.