North Village started off their campaign to recapture the Premier Division title in superb style with an emphatic victory against their old rivals Dandy Town at St. John?s Field yesterday.

Village bossed the match from the moment Robert Wilson gave them an early lead and when the Hornets did get as sight of goal, they found Red Devils? goalkeeper Zane Hendrickson in inspired form.

Had Village taken half their chances, Town would have been buried by half time, but it took two further goals in the last 11 minutes to make the scoreline a fairer reflection of the match.

To compound Town?s misery, Seion Darrell was sent off in injury time for a second bookable offence.

Hendrickson gave an indication of his stunning form in the seventh minute, when he pulled off a breath-taking double save to deny first Jared Peniston and Chris Anderson, both from point-blank range. The fact that the assistant referee?s flag was raised did not detract from the moment?s entertainment value.

The Red Devils opened their account in the 14th minute following a Keith Jennings right-wing corner, which Kentoine Jennings met with a powerful header. Town ?keeper Cymande Davis kept it out, only for Wilson to react quickest to head home the rebound.

Village then turned the screw and striker Nakia Smith saw his 20-yard drive cannon away off the crossbar after the Hornets? defence had given the ball away. The same player cleared the bar from ten yards later in the half.

Tafari Outerbridge shot too high after Davis had spilled a corner and then Davis used his leg to flip Tarik Jennings? low shot over the bar.

Town had their moments too, Hendrickson denying Peniston with a flying save and then Darrell seeing his tremendous free-kick hit the bar.

Village continued to have the better of the play after the break, but continued to miss chances. And the 54th-minute introduction of substitute Reggie Lowe added a touch of skill and panache.

But it seemed that Village would pay for their profligacy 14 minutes from time. Hendrickson for once failed to hold a shot by Darrell and with the ?keeper prostrate, the ball rolled to Tuzo with the goal at his mercy. Tuzo scuffed his effort and, from his grounded position, Hendrickson somehow managed to reach to his left to stop the ball on the line.

Three minutes later, Village went to the other end and sealed the points with a second goal. Lowe?s cross found Tankard on the far left side of the penalty area and Tankard?s fierce shot beat Davis at the near post.

Two minutes from time, another glorious, searching cross from the right by the diminutive Lowe was attacked by Smith, and although the striker?s half-volleyed attempt came back off the crossbar, the loose ball fell kindly to Keith Jennings, who smashed it into the net.

Darrell rubbed salt into his side?s wounds by getting himself sent off in injury time. His second clumsy tackle from behind during the game gave referee Granville Bennett little option but to show him his second yellow card.: C.Davis, S.Darrell, E.Signor, M.Lowe, D.Zuill, M.Parsons, O.Steede, S.Tuzo, L.Simmons (C.Smith 53 mins), J.Peniston, C.Anderson.: Z.Hendrickson, Kev.Jennings, K.Dill, Ken.Jennings, R.Wilson (R.Lowe, 54 mins), T.Outerbridge, Kei.Jennings, D.Wade (D.Edwards 45 mins), V.Tankard, T.Jennings (S.Hollis, 74 mins), N.Smith.: S.Darrell (Town): S.Darrell (Town)Zane Hendrickson (Village); Maurice Lowe (Town): Granville Bennett