Premier Division leaders North Village produced some of the most attractive football of the season at Police Field yesterday ? and also some of the most hideous.

Taking a leaf from the book of Village teams before them, the Reds surgically dissected Colts in the first half as they reduced the Orangemen to chasing ghosts on a pitch conducive to the visitors? fluent passing game.

However, after taking a 3-0 lead into the break, Village?s game gradually deteriorated in the second half as Colts desperately sought to get themselves back in the match.

Presented with an ideal opportunity to stretch their lead at the top of the standings to four points with nearest rivals Devonshire Cougars, Somerset Trojans and Dandy Town all sitting idle, Tyrell Burgess gave Village a dream start after only three minutes with a soft free kick from 20 yards that Colts? ?keeper Kevin Bean allowed to creep under his body at the near post.

And with Colts still to settle into any rhythm and appearing innocuous in attack, another Village blowout seemed on the cards especially when flu-riddled Keishen Bean doubled the Red?s lead 24 minutes later with a simple tap-in after Nakia Smith?s initial effort was parried into his path.

By now Colts ? with vocal coach Ray Jones voicing his opinion on the sidelines ? already looked like a beaten bunch and so it wasn?t surprising to see Village grab another goal when Bean cleverly side-footed Smith?s pass to the left of the hapless keeper who would later take a nasty blow to the lower lip.

To their credit, Colts, although trailing by three goals, refused to bow their heads. Instead Enrique Wilkins, Keimo Lawrence and Geron Trott continued to chisel away at the Reds defence, marshalled by the returning Kentoine Jennings, Michael Hansey and Kofi Dill.

Complacency appeared to set in in the Village camp which in turn allowed Colts ? whenever they weren?t being treated by their busy medic ? to move forward with more confidence during the latter stages of the half.

The home side missed a golden opportunity when Wilkin?s snap shot was easily saved by Village player/coach Dwayne (Streaker) Adams, deputising for the injured Zane Hendrickson between the uprights.

Colts? best chance arrived right on the half-time whistle with Trott lobbing wide with only the advancing Adams to contend with.

With the match all but sewn up, Village seemed to take their foot off the throttle and gradually they lost their shape, especially when Bean was replaced by Kevin Jennings, returning from exile.

Three goals to the good, Village fans had every reason to sense more fireworks to come.

They were in for a rude awakening as their team stooped to Colts? level, effectively reducing this affair into a physical and scrappy contest.

As Village went through the motions and seemingly waited for the inevitable three points, Colts stepped their game up a notch or two with veterans Sekai Waldron, Shannon Burgess and Makonnen Hollis providing good service to their younger counterparts in attack.

Terry Foote, Miguel Cabral and Shane Dietz all leapt off the bench to give Colts more bite up front. And gradually the home team?s physical approach began to make an impact on the Village defence, Burgess heading Lawrence?s corner kick onto the post.

Nothing could deny Colts from grabbing a deserved goal that ultimately proved to be a consolation strike when Kentoine Jennings handled in the area.

With Adams fired up between the sticks, former national team skipper Burgess beat the ?keeper to his left with a well taken spot kick.

Village threatened to increase their lead during the closing stages, Smith scooping a shot from inside the area over the bar and Kevin Jennings hurrying a shot wide of the target after creating space for himself during a trademark darting run down the right flank.

Jennings was also fortunate to come away unscathed after colliding with the aggressive Hollis near the Colts? bench.

K.Bean, S.Burgess, J.Butterfield (capt), D.Williams (T.Foote, 60 mins), G.Trott, W.Ming (S.Dietz, 40 mins), E.Wilkin, K.Lawrence (M.Cabral, 78 mins), S.Waldron, M.Burch, M.Hollis

: D.Adams, M.Hansey, K.Dill, Ken.Jennings (capt), K.Jennings, D.Edwards, R.Bean jr, D.Jennings (K.Dill, 65 mins), N.Smith, K.Bean (Kev.Jennings, 50 mins), T.Burgess.

: S.Waldron, M.Hollis, S.Dietz (Colts); D.Jennings, K.Dill (Village)

: S.Burgess (Colts); K.Bean (Village)

: Anthony Mouchette.