Devonshire Colts ground out the points in a sterile encounter against North Village yesterday.

Colts boss David Furbert admitted his tactics hadn't made for pretty football but said they had been necessary to contain his opponents.

"We tried to defend and stop them playing in the middle of the park,'' he said.

His side, still weakened from a spate of injuries in the back four, had Nathan Samuels keep a close eye on Village player-coach Kenny Thompson. But Samuels was allowed free rein when Colts hit on the counter attack and the tactic worked a treat as the promising youngster netted in the 42nd minute.

Jerome Laws had been felled just outside the box in what home fans claimed was a professional foul. Village failed to properly clear their lines and the ball broke to Aljamae Zuill whose angled shot from the right hit the left hand post. Samuels was on hand to pounce when the ball rebounded out.

Said Furbert: "We put Samuels on Kenny Thompson but we thought they wouldn't pay attention to him when we attacked. Our plan was successful.

"But I hope we can eventually entertain the crowd with some good football.'' Certainly there was little in the way of goalmouth action in the early stages.

The only moment of note in the first half hour was when ref Gary Cooke pulled a muscle and the game was halted while players took a welcome drink in the stifling heat.

Samuels hit a 20-yard thunderbolt when the game resumed with the keeper having to gather the ball at the second attempt.

Village's midfield began to run the show in the second half with Kentione Jennings making some surging runs. A penetrating cross to Neil Robinson nearly gave Village their breakthrough but Jemel Simmons rose well to head clear.

Calvin Dill came on for Thompson in the 80th minute and his long ball sent Robinson racing through on goal. He cut inside but dragged his fierce shot wide. Dill was behind much of Village's attacking moves as they stepped up the pressure in the dying minutes.

However, Colts nearly doubled their score when the Village keeper misjudged a speculative shot from Zuill but grabbed just before it dropped over the line.

Village coach Thompson said: "We are disappointed after having done enough to win. "We had controlled the majority of the match. But in the decisive moments we chose inappropriate actions. They sat back from the very beginning.'' Thompson admitted he had been tightly marked by Samuels.

But he said: "Our other ten players are a higher quality than their ten players. We controlled the game but didn't do the most important thing and put the ball in the back of the net. We were head and shoulders above them.'' Devonshire Colts: T.Hall, J.Simmons, S.Burgess, J.Samuels, C.Durham, N.Samuels, J.Aberdeen, W.Henry (R.Douglas 86 mins) T.Smith, A.Zuill, J.Laws (K.Lawrence, 78 mins) North Village: L.Hendrickson, J.Thomas (K.Simmons 70 mins), A.Simmons, Kentione Jennings, K.Binns, S.Boyles, Kevin Jennings, K.Thompson (C.Dill 80 mins), M.Hansey, N.Robinson, S.Goater (K.Simmons 75 mins).

Referee: Gary Cooke Men of the Match: Nathan Samuels (Devonshire Colts); Kentoine Jennings (North Village) Yellow cards: Jalmah Samuels (Colts); Michael Hansey and Arthur Simmons (North Village).

Red cards: None