N. Village 0 Dev. Colts 2 Rattled by the decision of referee Peter Sousa to send off leading goalscorer Dennis Robinson after just 13 minutes of this First Division match yesterday, North Village fought back courageously only to be denied a deserved point.

Their fate was sealed after 71 minutes when Harrison Trott clinched it for Colts with a well-taken goal from 17 yards -- his dipping shot sailing into the net just under the bar and above the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Carlyle Crockwell.

Colts had taken a 1-0 lead through Anthony Wilson after 24 minutes.

But Village hurt themselves when Sean Dill's spot kick after 49 minutes was saved by Colts 'keeper Randy Darrell.

Forced to play with 10 men for 77 minutes North Village fought like tigers, refusing to throw in the towel despite the shortage.

Humiliated by a 1-0 defeat to lowly Devonshire Cougars a week earlier the home team were determined to show to fans at Bernard Park that they had recovered from that setback. But it wasn't to be.

Robinson's departure noticeably angered Village team officials and the red card decision was indeed a debatable one.

The team's top goalscorer was dispossessed as he raced after a ball down the middle of the defence. He turned around in frustration, allegedly shouting abuse in the direction of the referee.

The incident came after Colts' college student Shannon Burgess had laid his authority on the game with fine efforts on goal during the first 11 minutes.

The Howard University skipper was sharp as ever throughout the first half forcing Crockwell to dive and push a drive from 16 yards outside the post after nine minutes and then heading Ellington Weldon's cross just over two minutes later.

With defenders Arthur Simons and Kevin Grant showing a willingness to push powerfully forward to join the attacks, Village suprisingly held their own until the half with Simons and Eugene Simmons coming close to scoring after 24 and 26 minutes.

Colts found it difficult to settle down and were restricted to a couple of long shots by Craig Smith, and a header by Burgess that went straight at Crockwell five minutes before the half.

But it was Colts who went ahead when Wilson received a pass from Burgess, raced in on the left side of the box and drilled the ball home.

This was followed by their best chance from Jahmah Samuels after 42 minutes, but his blast from 15 yards was brilliantly pushed away for a corner by Crockwell.

Dill's missed penalty set the pattern of frustration that was to come for North Village.

Sean Dill and Eugene Simmons put efforts over as Village attacked with purpose while Colts countered with Craig Smith and substitute Jay Bean getting off good shots, Smith putting his just over and Bean directing his into the chest of the goalkeeper.

Trott seemed to stun Villge with his timely chipped goal after 71 minutes, but the home team roared back with Darrell denying Arthur Simons by diving to push away his crisp 16-yarder at the end.

North Village: C.Crockwell; K.Simons, D.Bell, I.Romaine, A.Simons; K.Grant, E.Simmons (D.Rogers, 70 mins), C.Sabir; E.Jennings, D.Robinson, S.Dill.

Devonshire Colts: R.Darrell; D.Smith, A.Wilson, D.Wright, M.Hollis; H.Trott, J.Samuels, S.Burgess; J.Smith (J.Bean, 66 mins), C.Smith (D.Ming, 76 mins), E.Weldon.

Men of the match: Kevin Grant (Village); Shannon Burgess (Colts).

Referee: Peter Sousa