North Village 3 Somerset 1

Leaders North Village moved within one victory of the Premier League championship at Bernard Park yesterday with this come-from-behind win over Somerset Trojans.

After Randy Simmons had fired the visitors ahead from the penalty spot after 53 minutes, two-goal hero Clay Smith and Kentoine Jennings showed their class to inch Village closer to their first Premier title since 1978.

With just 180 minutes of soccer left in the 2001/02 campaign, Village's latest triumph was significant as it gave Scott Morton's team breathing room at the top with two bites of the cherry remaining.

In quagmire conditions, the home team quickly adjusted to the slippery surface and Smith went straight for the jugular with a snap-shot that was firmly hit at Somerset goalie Reid Jones, making his debut for the west enders in the absence of the injured Timmy Figuerido.

Somerset immediately answered as Dion Stovell prompted `keeper Zane Hendrickson to react quickly to gather a low shot while Village's Michael Hansey appeared in a generous mood to allow Dwight Basden a run at goal before Kentoine Jennings extinguished the raid.

Somerset were almost made to pay midway through the half when Jones mistakenly kicked the ball directly to an alert Kevin Jennings but the forward shot directly back into the keeper's arms.

Immediately after the restart Somerset's Tokia Russell name was entered into referee Stuart Crockwell's book for a blatant foul on Village's Kimandi Binns, while at the other end Jamaul Boyle's deft headed flick-on found an unmarked Smith who shot high and wide.

Having withstood Village's artillery, Somerset took the lead in bizarre fashion in the 53rd minute.

With team captain Basden in full stride chasing for a loose ball, Hendrickson was adjudged to have fouled the forward in his attempt to clear the ball away. But it was some time before Crockwell decided to penalise the Village `keeper and award Somerset a penalty after watching the ball roll into the post.

Stalwart Simmons made no mistake from the spot to give his team the lead and cushion the blow of losing Basden who was taken off and on to hospital for treatment.

Village responded quickly, throwing caution to the wind which in turn prompted Somerset coach Mark Trott to play Russell deep in his own half.

But after 65 minutes Village were level as Boyles executed a text book dummy that froze the Trojans defence and allowed Smith to connect on the blind-side with a crisp low drive that found its mark.

Tasting blood, Village were not yet done and ten minutes later Kentoine Jennings tore the heart out of Somerset with a thunderous header at the far post that left Jones grasping at thin air.

But Somerset refused to go down without a fight and were unfortunate not to have equalised through substitute Marvin Belboda.

However, Smith had other ideas and it was only fitting that he put the icing on the cake.

The veteran was ideally placed to stroke home substitute Tarik Jenning's rebound after Jones once again failed to hold onto a shot.

North Village: Z.Hendrickson, J.Thomas, R.Spence, K.Binns (S.DeShields 93 mins), Ken.Jennings, J.Boyles (M.Dill 85 mins), Kev.Jennings, M.Hansey, C.Smith, D.Basden, V.Tankard (T.Jennings 72 mins).

Somerset: R.Jones, T.Fubler, K.Roberts, A.Roberts, A.Rahman (D.Swan 85 mins), R.Scott, T.Russell, R.Simmons, D.Lawler, O.Shakir (S.Ming 72 mins), D.Stovell, D.Basden (M.Belboda 55 mins).

Booked: Z. Hendrickson (Village); T.Russell (Somerset).

Men of the Match: C.Smith (Village); R.Simmons (Somerset).

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.