A ?sleeper? of a game ? goalless at the half ? came alive after the break as North Village blitzed Southampton Rangers 5-1 at Bernard Park yesterday.

Four goals in 12 minutes by the Rams effectively ended a contest in which mud and rain proved the real opposition as players struggled to come to terms with conditions, skidding like vehicles on semi-wet asphalt and losing balance like first-time skaters.

Clearly stung by being held to a scoreless first half by already-relegated Rangers, Village emerged for the second 45 minutes with a purpose and drive that had been appallingly lacking earlier.

The home team?s aggression soon paid dividends as player/coach Kentoine Jennings ? pushing forward throughout ? powered into the area and was brought down by Kemon Simmons. Nakia Smith drilled home the 52nd minute penalty in the first strike of Village?s goal-fest.

Two minutes later Keith Jennings tapped in from point-blank range as Sergio Goater?s long-range lob found Rangers ?keeper Gerald Simons hopelessly off his line and, clipping the left post, fell nicely for the scorer.

In the 57th minute, livewire Vernon Tankard, seemingly tired of bolting up the wing, opted for one of his left-foot thunderbolts from beyond the area. The ball sizzled across the slippery turf and rattled the net before Simons realised he had wasted his time and further dirtied himself diving fruitlessly.

It was virtually one-way traffic with even the odd Rangers attack being thwarted by Village?s defenders or by the challenging surface. In a rare point-blank opportunity, Kemon Simmons was denied by the quick right foot of Village custodian Zane Hendrickson.

Having secured the outcome, Village were hardly moved to celebrate captain Ralph (Gumbo) Bean Jr?s 30-yard chip that sailed over Simons to score in the 64th minute and when Kentoine took care of the second penalty he earned 20 minutes later there was barely any reaction.

In between those two strikes, Jahma Charles pulled a goal back for the guests with a right-footed, angled shot from distance that beat Hendrickson overhead in the 79th minute. Z.Hendrickson, S.Goater, M.Hansey, J.Thomas, Kentoine Jennings, Kevin Jennings (J.Washington, 77 mins), R.Bean Jr, N.Smith (M.Crane, 84 mins), K.Jennings (Q.Paynter, 65 mins), V.Tankard. G.Simons, K.Tucker, R.Simmons, P.Brangman, T.Caisey (T.Flood, 84 mins), N.Grant, S.Perinchief (M.Smith, 33 mins), R.Lowe, J.Charles, K.Simmons (O.Hart, 71 mins), T.Wilkinson.K.Dill (North Village); K.Tucker (Southampton).Granville Bennett.