After five goals in just over a half-hour, it was safe to assume there would be 10 by the end.

But bad finishing coupled with some brave goalkeeping made for a second-half shut-out; and PHC should be content.

For if the home side had made good on half their clear opportunities, a baseball score would have got PHC's 1996-97 Coca-Cola First Division campaign off to a disastrous start.

The Zebras never looked like getting blown away on the basis of the first half in which they twice led. But they ran out of steam on a steamy day and consequently were left chasing shadows instead of stealing a point.

Raynel Lightbourne put the visitors ahead in the ninth minute when he stole in at the back post to force home an acrobatic header from Sheridan Ming.

Shawn Simons had already had a goal disallowed for offside as the Village defence made a far less than perfect start.

But they found themselves level in the 14th minute, Richard Wilson firing home a left-footer after receiving a Nakia Smith pass and holding off Dano Outerbridge.

PHC took only three minutes to restore their advantage, Village 'keeper Nyon Steede left dumbfounded when Simons redirected Ottis Steede's low 30-yarder into the far corner.

This was when Village were at their weakest and PHC attacked in droves, inspired by Steede's midfield work.

Keeper Steede made amends in the 28th minute when Lightbourne was put through and a few minutes later Michael Trott rattled the underside of the bar.

The Village defence was at sixes and sevens but just when it appeared PHC would salt the match away, it was level again.

Zebras 'keeper Jason Robinson, who had an otherwise sound game, fumbled Sean Dill's free kick and Nakia Smith pounced to score in the 33rd minute.

And six minutes before the half, Dill scored himself from the penalty spot after Wilson was fouled by Outerbridge.

The heat had already accounted for young Michael Williams of PHC who fell victim to dehydration after 36 minutes.

Little did his team-mates know that their quickfire start would come back to haunt them as well in the second half.

Given more space, the Village playmakers were in their element and things were beginning to happen.

Leon Raynor beat Robinson only two minutes upon resumption but his curling shot caught the bar.

Robinson did well to deny Wilson a diving header with a brave intervention in the 54th minute, then came PHC's last good spell.

Steede shot weakly after catching the Village defence napping on a free kick then Lightbourne flashed a right-footer past the upright after a good run across the middle.

Elliott Jennings should have done better in the 75th minute, his shot into the side-netting beginning a sequence when the Red Devils drew blanks on no less than five great chances.

Five minutes later, the same player brought a brilliant diving save from Robinson from a long-range shot.

Nakia Smith shot wildly after Jennings' cross brushed the bar and fell to him and then Jennings brought another good save from the 'keeper.

Shots came from all and sundry in the final minutes, few on target, but the key for Village was that PHC spent most of the time defending.

North Village: N.Steede; R.Spence, M.Hansey, I.Romaine, K.Grant; E.Jennings, L.Raynor (K.Dill, 89 mins), K.Jennings; R.Wilson (S.Hewey, 81 mins), S.Dill, N.Smith.

PHC: J.Robinson; M.Wade (S.Trott, 90 mins), D.Burgess (R.Lewis, 81 mins), D.Outerbridge, E.Hunt; S.Ming, O.Steede, M.Williams (A.Simmons, 36 mins); S.Simons, M.Trott, R.Lightbourne.

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.

Men of the match: Richard Wilson (North Village); Jason Robinson (PHC).

More soccer -- Pages 21, 22