Fierce lightning and torrential rain forced referee Rex Osborne to abandon this First Division game at Southampton Oval yesterday when Village were seemingly heading toward two points.

However, there were no qualms from either team when Osborne first stopped play in hopes of the weather improving. But when it got worst only three minutes had elapsed before the official finally decided to call the match.

Had the bad weather not intervened young substitute Wayne Augustus would have been the hero of the day for North Village after getting the go-ahead goal after 78 minutes -- just five minutes after coming on to replace injured centre-half Kimandi Binns.

Augustus combined with midfielder Clinton Caisey down the left flank and eventually whipped the ball home from 13 yards when Hotels' defence was in shambles.

As the skies darkened, Southampton Rangers officials provided the teams with what little lighting was available and this would have indeed served a purpose for a 10-minute period if things did not deteriorate completely.

After 82 minutes, Hotels had one of their better chances in the second half but it was blown when left-winger Clifton Anderson put his shot wide from 14 yards.

While North Village did most of the attacking in the first half it was Hotels who had the clearer shots on goal. After a slow start they picked themselves up and pinned down their opponents but Anderson and skipper Eugene Simmons blasted shots over from close in after 32 and 33 minutes respectively.

Village had three of their World Cup players back into their line-up but only forward Elliot Jennings was prominent. Time and time again he spearheaded their attacks but got little help from Philip Clark and Paul Simmons in the early stages.

It was Simmons though who put them ahead after 43 minutes, slamming a left-footed drive home from 14 yards after combining with Jennings. A minute later Jennings himself was close and he powered a drive just wide of the post from 15 yards.

Simmons put the ball into goal after 40 seconds of the second half but was ruled offside on the play. Still it proved that Village meant business.

Clarke followed this up by blasting over from 16 yards and then Jennings put another shot wide from outside the box.

Hotels refused to throw in the towel and came roaring back after 53 minutes and scored when hard-working midfielder Myron Piper put a ball home from close range.

Village went flat for a while during which time Hotels came close to scoring when Simmons headed a Stevie Dickinson corner just over.

After 65 minutes Jennings crashed a shot off the bar with a left-footed drive from 15 yards. But 13 minutes later they got the goal they wanted when Augustus came off the bench to put them ahead.

North Village: C.Davis; K.Grant, M.Hansey, K.Binns (W.Augustus, 73 mins), C.Castle; K.Jennings, S.Coddington, C.Caisey; P.Simmons, P.Clarke, E.Jennings.

Hotels: G.Edness; D.McGowan, P.Smith, F.Greaves, D.Scott; M.Piper, E.Simmons, C.Sabir; C.Bell, S.Dickinson, C.Anderson.

Referee: Rex Osborne.

Men of the match: Elliott Jennings (North Village); Myron Piper (Hotels).

TRIAL CELEBRATION -- Paul Simmons signals Village's opening goal against Hotels, congratulated by Michael Hansey with Steven Coddington oncoming. But, in the end, it counted for nothing as the match was abandoned with five minutes left.