N.Village 4 Dandy Town 2 Last weekend they tasted the pain, this time around it was pure pleasure for North Village.

After watching Dandy Town lift the league title last time out, putting paid to any chance of a Red Devils treble in the process, they ensured the balance was redressed yesterday with a 4-2 Friendship Trophy victory over the Hornets at the National Sports Centre.

However, it must be said they did their best to try and ensure the glory went to their rivals, throwing away a 2-0 goal lead and missing a penalty before administering the death thrust in injury time.

Jamaul Boyles opened the scoring in the 17th minute and Village doubled their lead four minutes later through a Kofi Dill header.

But a Carlos Smith penalty and a Raymond Beach strike levelled the scores.

Michael Hansey missed from the spot for Village but just as it looked as though extra time might be needed Kimandi Binns headed home and Kevin Jennings ensured the scoreline had a slightly flattering appearance.

"This showed who deserved to be league champions today right there,'' said Hansey. "It was our own fault that we weren't, but at the same time that was our challenge, to show to ourselves that, hey, we were supposed to be league champions. That's how close it was and that's how far away.'' Village's Dwight Warren, said he was delighted to have something to show for the season.

"I'm very elated. We beat the champions of the league and now we are the champions of the Friendship, so it's good for our team leading into the next competition, the FA (Cup final),'' he said.

"Town are a good physical and technical team under the coaching of Andrew Bascome so we knew we had to implement our tactics and techniques and do what the coach wanted us to do today and I think we came out pretty good.'' Village coach Scott Morton said his players had had him on tenterhooks.

"With the amount of chances that we missed it was incredible,'' he said.

"They were gifts and there was totally no excuse for them. Keith (Jennings) was the chief culprit, but what I can appreciate is the way he came off the field -- even though we won he is not extremely happy, he knows he should have put this game way out of reach. I appreciate that fight in our players.'' Bascome said he threw caution to the wind towards the end.

"When we went down I threw people forward because it didn't make sense (not to). Somebody had to win,'' he said.

"I think it was a good performance and I congratulate our players, the league champions, and look forward to next season.'' In one of the best clashes seen this season, the two teams came out like bar room brawlers, Village throwing a metaphorical punch and Town answering with one of their own.

The Hornets found success down the left, where Darron Simons caused all sorts of problems for Jawan Thomas. The irony was, however, that it was a miss from the otherwise immaculate Simons that led to Village taking the lead.

Seyoum Tuzo's initial shot was saved by Nyon Steede and then follow-up efforts by Smith and Simons were somehow blocked on the line. The ball was pumped downfield and Boyles latched onto it, rounded the 'keeper and scuffed a shot which just about made it over the line.

The lead was extended when Boyles struck the bar from inside the Town box and Dill reacted quickest to the rebound to head home.

The good work began to come undone in the 24th minute though when Kimandi Binns unnecessarily floored Smith, the wronged player getting up to stroke the perfect spot-kick past Steede.

Continued on page 29 Village late show Continued from page 27 The Village 'keeper should perhaps have walked 10 minutes before half-time when he unceremoniously clattered Simons as he raced from his box.

The challenge was clumsy more than malicious and referee Richard Knight brandished just the yellow card, Steede then acrobatically tipping the resultant free-kick around a post.

Substitute Sergio Goater rampaged down the right after the break to set up Keith Jennings, but when he should have blasted home he opted for precision and his tame effort was cleared off the line.

The same player suffered the same fate shortly after when after firing the ball goalwards it was marshalled away by the impressive Kingsley Mundy.

A sickening clash of heads then brought an end to Dill's afternoon, the player writhing on the ground after suffering a bad gash across the eye.

He had not even made it to the ambulance when Town drew level -- Beach beating the last defender and slipping the ball around Steede.

But just when you thought the Hornets were in the ascendancy they were brought back to earth when Kevin Jennings was hacked down in the box by 'keeper Jason Smith.

Hansey struck the penalty well, but Smith redeemed himself with a smart save low down.

However, Town's respite was brief.

Binns capitalised when Smith failed to collect a corner, heading home from virtually on the line, then a minute or so later, with Town looking for the equaliser, Kevin Jennings delivered the killer blow from the edge of the box.

Village: N.Steede; J.Thomas (T.Jennings, 46); R.Spence; K.Dill; K.Binns; J.Boyles; Kevin Jennings; M.Hansey; T.Outerbridge (S.Goater, 66); D.Warren; Keith Jennings.

Dandy Town: J.Smith; L.Furbert; P.Douglas; K.Mundy; D.Christopher; S.Smith; D.Boyles (K.Smith, 83); C.Smith; R.Beach; D.Simons; S.Tuzo (K.Hurdle, 66).

Men of the match: M.Hansey (Village); D.Simons (Town) Bookings: N.Steede, J.Boyles (Village); C.Smith (Town) Referee: R.Knight.