Dandy Town 0 North Village 2

Dandy Town's chances of holding on to their festive cup were drowned at Lord's on Boxing Day.

Devarr Boyles' men will now have to win their final eliminator on Friday after a Nakia Smith strike and a Ralph Bean penalty separated the teams in wet and wild conditions at St. David's.

The quagmire proved to be a great leveller, the ball spending so much time in puddles that chances were kept to a minimum, particularly in the second half when the pitch was more mud and water than grass.

But Village, in conditions where armbands and trunks would have been more suitable, prevailed to move through to another final while Town go back to work later in the week.

In the opening period, standing water dotted around the field and a mixture of wind and, at times, torrential wind didn't help proceedings but chances were still just about carved out at either end.

In atrocious conditions ? maybe too atrocious for Carlos Smith who was left on the bench ? 22 bedraggled players battled for a route one arrival in the January 2 final.

Youngster Tyrell Burgess was unlucky with a piledriver after an indirect free kick, Daniel Johnson in the Town goal was forced to tip over spectacularly.

Lashun Dill was the most effective Town player but the majority of the action was taking place away from the clubhouse end with Village continuing their run of good form.

But Town were given a gift in their attempts to defend the trophy after a Village hand gave them a spot kick.

Otis Steede casually stepped up, but perhaps too casually, as his shot was not only saved but actually held by Zane Hendrikson in a puddle by his right hand post.

But with half time approaching, Village took a deserved lead.

Youngster Taurean Manders thumped against the bar from just inside the box and the ball rebounded onto the line and then out again, but before any discussion could begin about whether the ball had crossed, Nakia Smith finished off from close range.

Half time was welcomed by players and officials alike as the rain was only coming down harder and the pitch was fast approaching the consistency of the Saltus pool.

The second half became almost farcical, the various puddles began to join and create one large body of water in which the ball constantly came to a standstill.

The wings provided the only respite as the players struggled to keep their feet and skill players struggled to do anything.

It even reached the stage when, after a particularly ridiculous passage of play where players were kicking water and the ball wasn't moving, referee Tony Mouchette had a chat with BFA rep Lee Holder to check whether the show should go on.

Village appeared to be just holding on for the victory although that plan nearly failed when Seion Darrell beat the 'keeper but only found the sidenetting.

Dwaye (Streaker) Adams' men had another lucky escape when the assistant referee's flag denied sub Carlos Smith who already had the ball in the back of the net.

But the game was finally killed off in the final minutes when Keith Jennings was pulled down in one of the penalty box puddles and Mouchette blew for the kick.

Ralph Bean stepped up and slotted home to book a place in the final and a few days to dry off.

Town: D. Johnson, E. Signor, M. Lowe, B. Minors, K. Mundy, A. Thomas, S. Darrell, L. Dill (M. Parsons, 65 mins), O. Steede, K. Butterfield (C. Smith, 53 mins), C. Anderson (J. Peniston, 65 mins).

Village: Z. Hendrikson, K. Dill, M. Hansey, Kentoine Jennings, Keith Jennings, T. Manders, R. Bean, D. Tucker, N. Smith (T. Watson, 85 mins), S. Hollis, T. Burgess (D. Degraff, 75 mins).

Yellow cards: Nakia Smith, T. Burgess (Village)

Men of the match: D. Johnson (Town) T. Manders (Village)

Referee: Anthony Mouchette

Wolves 2 Paget 1

Wolves came from behind to claim their place in the New Year Champions Cup second tier final.

Persistent rain and some bad tempers did little to turn the game into a classic but there were few complaints as many spectators were kept away by the inclement weather.

Wolves, comfortable winners on the Friday before Christmas, dominated proceedings in the first half but conceded first.

With probably their only genuine chance in the opening 45 minutes, Paget's Devon Bailey took advantage of some woeful goalkeeping from a free kick to clean up in a goalmouth scramble.

But just before the break, Wolves tied things up when Vincent Minors won a footrace to finish off a one-on-one.

In the second half, Wolves got their deserved winner when Dane Simmons fired home in the 49th minute and despite the best efforts of Marvin Belboda there was to be no reprieve for the Lions.

They will go to work in the last-chance saloon on Friday against the winners of St. George's and St. David's in tonight's action (7p.m.) at Devonshire Rec.

In the Premier game, Trojans, defeated by Town on penalties in the final game before Christmas, take on Cougars, beaten on opening night by Village, with the winners going up against Boyles' men on Friday.