Dandy Town 3 North Village 2

Dandy Town put a huge dent in North Village’s Premier Division title aspirations and pulled further away from relegation with a hard-fought victory at Goose Gosling Field last night.

Angelo Simmons, the Town captain, struck a hat-trick that has perhaps all but ended Village’s title hopes. Village knew a victory would move them level on points with leaders Robin Hood, but Simmons and his team-mates had other ideas and made Village pay for squandering gilt-edged chances.

Ralph Bean missed an opportunity at the end of the first half, while captain Keishen Bean missed a sitter late on. Midfielder Jonathan Briers also headed against the woodwork.

“It was really competitive, end to end and some really good football — that’s what you expect out of a derby,” Kwame Steede, the Town coach, said.

As For Simmons’s treble, Steede added: “That’s what you do when you’re the captain, you lead from the front.”

Town built up a head of steam only to be stopped in their tracks when Village surged ahead.

Forward Shayne Hollis whipped in a cross which was met by Ralph Bean, who smashed the ball into the net. The goal rattled Town but they were back on even terms shortly after when Simmons opened his account. Striker Temiko Wilson knocked down Drewonde Bascome’s cross into the path of Simmons who fired past Village goalkeeper Tahj Bell. However, Town’s joy was short-lived as Village regained the lead from the penalty spot after Kwonde Lathan handled in the box.

Hollis made no mistake with his spot-kick to put his team back in front. Ralph Bean missed a great chance when he failed to get on the end of Demetre Daniels’s pass on the stroke of half-time. Town issued a statement of intent early in the second half with midfielder Damon Ming bringing off a fingertip save from Bell.

At the other end, Briers headed Hollis’s free kick against the crossbar. Simmons brought the teams level when beat Bell with a grass cutter into the far corner.

The game opened up with both teams going close, with Wilson having a goal waved off by the referee assistant’s flag.

Keishen Bean blasted over from point-blank range and substitute Thomas Watson volleyed just wide of the post.

With the game seemingly drifting towards a draw, Simmons scored the winner in stoppage time with another neat finish to claim the match ball and complete his team’s impressive fightback.