Vasco are on the victory trail.

And the league leaders' 3-2 win over defending champions Boulevard yesterday left no-one in any doubt as to their title aspirations.

"In order to be the champions you have to beat the champions,'' said delighted coach John Rebello after his team's hard-fought victory at St.

David's. "We played hard and got the result we wanted.'' An Earl Richardson penalty, sandwiched between goals by Dwight Basden and substitute Irving Burgess, saw Vasco clinch the points.

But after a first 45 minutes in which the home side did little more than make up the numbers, the second half saw the reigning champions give the team with their eyes on the crown plenty to think about.

Trailing 1-0 at the half to a 25th-minute strike by Basden, the Blazers looked like they were ready to roll over and die.

But they were back on level terms just two minutes into the second half when Stevie Wade buried a David Gibbs cross past Timmy Figureido in the Vasco goal.

And it was end-to-end stuff from then on.

In almost the next attacking move of the game, Vasco restored their advantage after Mitchell Trott brought down goalscorer Basden as he homed in on the Boulevard net once again.

Richardson made no mistake from the penalty spot.

But the home team did not allow Vasco to keep their noses ahead for long.

Albert Caisey, who battled hard throughout, put Ross Lambe through to make it 2-2 in the 61st minute. It was to be Lambe's last action of the afternoon, coming off to make way for Shivaughn Smith.

But it was Vasco's substitution of Burgess for Billy Kirkpatrick that was to prove decisive.

Just over 10 minutes after taking the field, Burgess rose to meet a Corey Hill free kick -- his header ricocheting off the woodwork giving Blazers' 'keeper Mitchell Steede no chance.

It was fast and furious as the clock ticked down, but Vasco refused to cave in as Boulevard threw everything at them.

In fact, it was Vasco who threatened to increase their margin of victory as Burgess went close once again.

And the visitors finished the game on the attack with Sinclair Gibbons hitting the ball straight at Steede as Esten Curtis blew the final whistle.

Vasco were the first to find their feet yesterday after a pre-match downpour made playing conditions difficult in the opening quarter of an hour.

The slippery surface put paid to a number of promising moves early on, but as the pitch dried out both sides contributed to an exciting spectacle.

Vasco, unbeaten in six league and cup games this season, will be bidding to continue their winning ways when they take on St. George's in the Martonmere Cup semi-final on Wednesday. And Boulevard will be hoping to bounce back from their league defeat when they face North Village in the other semi-final.

Boulevard: M.Steede, A.Caisey, L.Hypolite, D.Boyles, M.Trott (M.Smith, 82 mins.), G.Smith, R.Stevens, D.Warren, R.Lambe (S.Smith, 62 mins), D.Gibbs (J.Samuels, 64 mins.), S.Wade.

Vasco: T.Figureido, D.Stapley, S.Smith, K.Jennings, E.Richardson, K.Roberts, S.Gibbons, S.Arorash, D.Basden (F.Simmons, 71 mins.), C.Hill (P.Richardson, 82 mins.), W.Kirkpatrick (I.Burgess, 62 mins).

Referee: Esten Curtis.

Men of the match: Dwight Basden (Vasco), David Gibbs (Boulevard).