`Brilliant!' The one word describes perfectly the performance put on by Dandy Town last night at BAA Field, as the Hornets swarmed and stung league leaders North Village 3-2 to complete the first half of the Premier Division campaign.

Two goals in the second half by veteran Paul Cann earned victory and a place in the Dudley Eve Trophy for the St. John's Road club and handed Village their first league loss, but it was a dominating first-half show that set the table.

Displaying the harmonic fluency of a 100-piece orchestra, and with coach Andrew Bascome conducting from the sidelines, Town, perceived to have underachieved for much of the campaign, forced forced Village into the role of a faded melody. "(Tonight) they were humble and prepared to work,'' said Bascome afterwards. "The performance has been there all season, but the reward with the goals has not been there.

"Performances like this are no fluke, it's over a period of time.'' After Simons squandered a gift opportunity in the third minute, lobbing the ball wide with just goalkeeper Nyon Steede to beat it appeared the night might evolve into another fruitless search.

However, such notions disappeared as Simons popped up in the 13th minute to turn a low drive into the penalty area by Carlos Smith past a bewildered Steede.

Further saves were forced out of Steede by Smith and Simons, however the best shot of the half came from the boot of captain Lionel Furbert, a 35-yard tracer that the 'keeper turned away for a corner.

But Keith Jennings scored an outrageous equaliser nine minutes after the break.

A partial clearance allowed Dwight Warren to get in a secondary cross that Jennings rose high to meet, twisting his body and knocking the ball in with his shoulder.

Town re-took the lead in the 62nd minute as Paul Cann seized upon a loose ball at the edge of the penalty area and fired low into the left side.

Village battled gamely for another equaliser, but found the Town defence up to the task, and instead it was they that cracked, with Cann getting his second 89 minutes on, slamming an angled blast past Steede.

Village responded with a Quincy Paynter tally in injury time, but the gift for Town had been wrapped, sealed and delivered.

Dandy Town: A.Lightbourne; D.Binns, L.Furbert, P.Douglas, K.Mundy; D.Boyles (M.Lowe 75 mins), P.Cann, S.Smith, C.Smith (R.Tucker 61 mins); R.Beach, D.Simons (K.Smith 85 mins).

North Village: N.Steede; J.Thomas, R.Spence, Ken.Jennings, K.Dill; J.Boyles (T.Jennings 67 mins), Kei.Jennings, M.Hansey (D.Jennings 74 mins); D.Wade (Q.Paynter 45 mins), D.Warren, S.Goater.

Men of the Match: Raymond Beach (Dandy Town); Keith Jennings (North Village).

Yellow card: Devon Binns (Dandy Town); Kentoine Jennings (North Village).

Referee: Anthony Mouchette.