Dandy Town Hornets and North Village always seem to bring the best out of each other.

Yesterday’s six-goal thriller at Bernard Park was no exception as the two teams left nothing on the pitch and in the end had to be content with a draw.

Town appeared to have had the match sewn up, but poor defending on a set piece deep into stoppage time allowed Jonathan Briers, the Village midfielder, to scramble Rakeem DeShields’s free kick across the line in heavy traffic with virtually the last kick of an enthralling encounter.

It was a cruel blow for Town who had held a slight edge over Village most of the way and were more than deserving of maximum points.

The visiting side stretched Village with their slick passing and movement on and off the ball and did a better job winning the second ball.

To their credit, though, Village did just enough to hang on and when Town switched off seconds before the final whistle they made the visiting side pay.

Town asked a few questions from the kick off but were pegged back when Briers’s cross was headed in by Takeyhi Walker, who was given far too much time and space at the back post.

Town did not panic, though, and after regrouping hit back with two goals in the space of five minutes to put their noses out front.

Ashaun Smith, the Town striker, smashed Damon Ming’s cross past Troy Hall, the Village goalkeeper, to level the scores.

Before the dust had settled, Hall was picking the ball out of the net again after Ming scored the best goal of the game. Keishen Bean, the Village midfielder, conceded a free kick about 25 yards out, with Ming then beating Hall with a curling effort inside the far post that left the goalkeeper clutching at thin air.

Town nearly stretched their lead when Jason Davis, the Village defender, was dispossessed deep in his own half by Smith, but with only Hall to beat, the striker failed to convert and Village were let off the hook. Village found another gear towards the end of the first half and came close when striker Jason Lee blasted over from about 12 yards.

The home side would not be denied moments later when winger Pierre Smith flicked Lee’s cross in at the near post as Town’s defence stood frozen.

Town continued to hold the upper hand for most of a second half, with both teams chiselling out chances at opposite ends but failing to take them.

Hornets had the ball in the back of the net again, but the effort was ruled offside.

Village, however, were not as fortunate when Smith completed his brace, the striker converting a breakaway on the second attempt after his initial effort was parried by Hall.

Smith was given a free run at goal after a long ball over the top caught Village short at the back on a quick break.

Village would have the last say, however, Briers pouncing on slack defending at the death to salvage a point for the home side when all seemed lost.