A brilliant goal by Clay Smith after 57 minutes gave visiting St. George's a deserved victory over North Village in this FA Cup quarter-final game at Bermard Park yesterday.

The disappointing result for the home team came after yet another undistinguished performance, leaving their fans mystified over why they continue to have trouble producing their best when playing at Bernard Park.

St. George's rattled Village from the start with some fast, aggressive play and their approach brought them deserved rewards.

The East Enders raised their rhythm and pace above their opponnets from the outset, playing with the kind of precision that coach Neil Paynter hopes will carry over to the league.

Smith's winner was a beauty. The powerful forward glided into position after a chip from hard-working midfielder Dwayne Richardson brushed off Derek Bell's head and into Smith's path.

Although a challenge forced him to fall, Smith quickly gathered control of himself and somehow managed to flick the ball home from close range as he steadied himself with a hand still on the ground.

St. George's defence yielded little and once they gained possession they moved aggressively forward.

In contrast, North Village were often embarrassingly inept up front with skipper Elliott Jennings left alone to break through the defence. In midfield they were outhustled with Dwayne Richrdson prominent for St. George's.

It was Jennings who came close to scoring after 26 minutes when his angled shot from the left was palmed against the post by the efficient Troy Hall in the St. George's goal and finally cleared.

Although Jennings continued to threaten with good runs down the left flank, St. George's held a decisive edge for the rest of the half and were unlucky not to score.

Tireless Gregory Foggo forced Carlyle Crockwell in the Village goal to dive to save his blast from 16 yards after 28 minutes and Clay Smith followed by putting a shot wide from the same distance.

Five minutes later Crockwell had to dive again to collect another shot, this time from Smith from the edge of the box.

A real scare for Village came after 37 minutes when striker Jerome Laws broke through the middle but saw Crockwell sensationally dive to take the ball from his feet from close in.

Young Nakia Smith almost put Village ahead after 55 minutes but his fierce blast from 17 yards was brilliantly pulled down by Hall.

Two minutes later St. George's responded with a move down the left flank that resulted with Smith putting his team ahead.

Village worked hard to gain the initiative but were seldom allowed into goalscoring territory by a defence well marshalled by Quinton Francis and Philip Bailey.

It was St. George's who had the clearer chances with both coming from Smith.

He forced Crockwell to leap and pull down his tricky free kick after 76 minutes and after 86 minutes again had Crockwell busy. This time the Village 'keeper moved to his right to collect a shot from 18 yards.

North Village: C.Crockwell; K.Grant (K.Simons, 75 mins), D.Bell, I.Romaine, C.Roberts, K.Binns (E.Simmons, 83 mins); M.Hansey, N.Smith, C.Sabir; S.Dill, E.Jennings.

St. George's: T.Hall; A.Todd, Q.Francis, P.Bailey, D.Bailey; M.Outerbridge (L.Robinson, 65 mins), D.Richardson, H.Bascome (D.Minors, 79 mins), G.Foggo; J.Laws, C.Smith.

Referee: Rex Osborne Men of the match: Carlyle Crockwell (North Village); Clay Smith (St.

George's).

ON THE ATTACK -- Gregg Foggo of St. George's (right) evades this challenge from North Village's Irving Romaine during action at Bernard Park yesterday.