North Village 6 Somerset Eagles 2

Well aware they can ill-afford any slip-ups in their quest to retain the Premier League title, North Village demolished Somerset Eagles 6-2 yesterday to secure a valuable five-point cushion at the top of the table as the race for honours moves towards its climax.

The loss at White Hill Field left hapless Eagles languishing in the relegation zone with just two matches left. By contrast, Village can relax temporarily as they put some distance between themselves and the hard-chasing Devonshire Cougars, currently second on 20 points. However, Cougars have three games to play while Village have two.

The 13th minute proved lucky for Village as Dwight (Payback) Warren put the finish on a ball lofted into the six-yard box by Ralph Bean for the visitors to go 1-0 up.

Eagles had a prime opportunity to equalise soon after when a crisp cross from the right side was destined for Lamaul Crofton but the player slipped in the soggy conditions and fell in front of goal as the ball passed him.

Bean, who enjoyed a superb game, doubled Village's score in the 24th minute when Kevin Jennings - with one of his trademark runs up the right flank - gifted his team-mate with a perfect pass at point-blank range.

Perhaps getting a bit complacent, Village were embarrassed two minutes later when miscommunication between Michael Hansey and goalie Zane Hendrickson resulted in an interception by Nakia Smith about 10 yards out. The latter made no mistake with a yawning goal ahead of him and Hendrickson desperately out of place.

At 2-1, the spirits of home fans would have risen, hoping a real tussle would unfold but they were sadly disappointed.

Smarting from their defensive slip, Village struck back immediately with Kofi Dill beating Eagles keeper, Adrian Burrows, at the near post after being sent on his way up the left flank by Jemeiko Jennings in the 27th minute.

Smith had a chance to pull another goal back for Eagles but, from point-black distance, he tapped a soft shot to Hendrickson instead of rattling the net. Thus the score remained at 3-1 at the break.

In the second half, Warren added a second goal to his name in the 61st minute - in identical fashion to his first except the lob was compliments of Dill this time. As Village tightened their grip on proceedings, Warren unselfishly passed to Keith Jennings in the six-yard box for the latter, having an uncharacteristically bad outing, to notch the team's fifth goal in the 73rd minute.

Substitute Clay Smith completed the six haul with a classy header from a long ball by another substitute Tafari Outerbridge in the 83rd minute.

Another defensive mix-up by Village allowed Crofton to belatedly pull a goal back for Eagles in the 89th minute.

North Village: Z.Hendrickson, M.Hansey, K.Dill, Kentoine Jennings, K.Binns, J.Jennings (T.Outerbridge, 60 mins), Kevin Jennings, R.Bean, Keith Jennings (C.Smith, 75 mins), J.Davis, D.Warren (D.Coddington, 76 mins).

Somerset Eagles: A.Burrows, A.Lambert, S.Simmons, D.Burgess, K.Simmons, D.Binns (S.Burrows, 45 mins), J.Tucker (R.Hill, 45 mins), S.Dill, N.Smith, L.Crofton, M.Dill (D.Dowling, 30 mins).

Booked: K.Simmons (Eagles).

Men of the Match: R.Bean (Village); N.Smith (Eagles).

Referee: G.O'Brien.