How agonising it must have been for Shawn Goater to watch his former team drop two home points against Devonshire Colts at Bernard Park yesterday.

Unlike the days of Goater when Village had lots of firepower up front, it was obvious that were ailing from a lack of bite in their attack in this match.

The home team fell behind 1-0 to a first-half goal by Mark Ray after nine minutes and then they found themselves in deeper trouble after 58 minutes when Craig Smith gave Colts a 2-0 lead, which they managed to hold on to until the end.

Smith's goal knocked the wind out of Village. The Colts left-winger gratefully collected a poor goalkick by goalkeeper Cymande Davis and blasted it into the empty goal from the edge of the box.

The gift, which Smith took advantage of, was timely as it came when Colts were reeling against a Village team who were just beginning to display a new look after a dismal first half.

Within 15 seconds of the restart Tito Smith fired a shot just wide of the post to signal a warning to Colts that things will be different in the second half.

And it was for a while.

Village stormed forward and pinned down the defence for the first 10 minutes during which period the defence was forced to scramble the ball off the line.

As well, Arthur Simons and Kevin Jennings forced goalkeeper Andre Hendrickson to make good saves with shots from outside of the penalty box.

Just when a goal seemed inevitable Davis handed Smith the opportunity, which the lethal left-footed forward made good.

Substitute Richard Wilson headed a Clinton Caisey cross, which Hendrickson fell to the ground to save in the only other major threat Village managed to mount before the end.

Colts were sharp in the first half and deserved to go ahead by the interval.

Their goal was a beauty, coming when Ray caught the defence napping and unleashed a fierce right-footed drive from 18 yards that gave Davis no chance.

With centre-half Derek Wright marshalling the defence and Vic Ball prominent in midfield with the hard-working Ray and Leonard Hypolite, Colts were allowed to hold a decisive edge.

After Smith and Ball put shots wide and over goal respectively and Keishon Smith put a shot wide when he should have scored from an Anthony Wilson cross, Colts went ahead through Ray.

Village were able to launch a few isolated attacks but their front men were clearly out of touch with Sean Dill, Jamel Smith and Tito Smith finding it difficult to cope when marked tightly.

After 38 minutes, Vic Ball blasted a shot inches wide of the post as Colts worked hard to gain a more comfortable lead by the interval.

North Village: C.Davis; W.Augustus, A.Caisey, M.Hansey, A.Simons; C.Castle, C.Caisey, Kev.Jennings (W.Salaam, 75 mins); S.Dill (R.Wilson, 62 mins), J.Smith, T.Smith.

Devonshire Colts: A.Hendrickson; J.Samuels, C.Wright, D.Wright, A.Wilson (J.Bean, 57 mins); V.Ball, M.Ray, L.Hypolite; E. Weldon, K.Smith (Q.Aberdeen, 66 mins), C.Smith.

Referee: Chris Jones.

Men of the match: Michael Hansey (North Village); Derek Wright (Devonshire Colts).

SLIPPING THROUGH -- Devonshire Colts' Ellington Weldon, centre, looks to be getting the better of Michael Hansey, left, and Kevin Jennings of North Village in action at Bernard Park yesterday.