North Village and PHC both emerged victorious in Saturday night?s Charity Cup matches at BAA Field. But the night?s biggest spoils went to local charity PALS who received a generous donation from gate receipts.

Saturday night?s season opening double-header at BAA, witness by a considerably large gathering, proved to be reasonably entertaining and went off incident free as a beefed up team of security personnel and Police were on hand to prevent further violent acts such as last April?s Friendship Trophy Final melee at Wellington Oval from erupting and again tarnishing the local game.

In the curtain-raising Womens Charity Cup clash, PHC outscored Lady Cougars 4-3 while in the night cap North Village clinched an unprecedented third successive Charity Cup crown with a 2-0 shutout win over Dandy Town.

Local football reached perhaps its lowest ebb last April when armed rival gangs clashed on the pitch and in the stands in front of terrified onlookers.

?I think it was as a very enjoyable environment. People have been anxiously awaiting the return of football over the summer and I?m really glad we experienced a wonderful night,? said Bermuda Football Association president Larry Mussenden.

?We saw a large crowd come out (to BAA Field) and we were able to raise some money which will be donated to a very worthy charity in the form of PALS. We also had PALS CEO Ann Smith Gordon present at the game and she sat among the fans and also interacted with the players and expressed how appreciative she was of football in Bermuda for making donations like this to charity organisations such as hers.?

Mussenden described the matches themselves as ?enjoyable?.

?It was just a joy to see the look in the player?s eyes ? they were ready to play. Both games were entertaining right down to the last minute and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them along with the several thousand also present to watch them,? he added.

?We had a security firm present to ensure a safe environment and they a wonderful job. The night went off incident free and we are also grateful for the Bermuda Police who we were in touch with us prior to and during the game and we?re grateful they attended as well.

?There were no incidents at the games which again goes to show that football is a sport, and has been for a long time, where people can come together for the reason of sport and socialising only.?

Local football resumes this Friday night at BAA Field with the start of the 2004-05 Martonmere Cup competition.

The night kicks off with a Group A contest featuring Somerset Eagles and last season?s runners up Devonshire Cougars at 7 p.m. while cross-town rivals Boulevard and Dandy Town square off at 9 p.m. in an intriguing Group B clash.