Just four days after handing maximum points to Somerset, First Division champions Vasco were just as gracious to struggling Devonshire Cougars at PHC yesterday.

But this time the three points that Cougars came away with were decisive as they ensured another season in the First Division. Anything less than maximum points, and Cougars would have been relegated instead of Somerset.

It was Cougars who left the field in high spirits and not Vasco who appeared subdued as they were formally presented with the league trophy.

There was no real celebration -- more an air of relief at the end of a long-season which finished on a two-game losing note.

In their final outing, Vasco were floored by goals from Aljame Zuill and skipper Wali Salaam. Sinclair Gibbons pulled one back for the champions.

With relegation staring them in the face, Cougars played with fight and determination throughout -- and despite being unable to take the initiative during the early stages they still managed to score first.

Hard working midfielder Ryan Swan sent a blistering 25-yard shot that crashed against the bar and rebounded to Zuill who turned the ball home from close range. But Vasco replied four minutes later when left back Gibbons put the finishing touches to a build-up spearheaded by Meshach Wade and Sammy Swan.

For the rest of the half Vasco dominated with Kentoine Jennings heading against the bar and Wade blasting over from 14 yards. Cougars, however, struck early in the second half, Salaam scoring from close in after combining with Zuill.

Vasco: T.Figureido; T.Dickinson, K.Jennings, P.Towlson (E.Richardson, 62 mins), S.Gibbons; M.Wade, D.Stapley, O.Steede (T.Darrell, 85 mins); A.Russell, D.Basden (K.Smith, 73 mins), S.Swan.

Cougars: T.Henry; J.Thomas, S.Smith, G.Butterfield, M.Dill; S.Coddington, D.Trott, R.Swan (P.Clarke, 75 mins), G.Dyer; W.Salaam, A.Zuill.

Referee: G.Cook.

Men of the match: Ascento Russell (Vasco); Galvin Butterfield (Cougars).

S.Rangers 6 PHC 3 Midway through the second half of this match at Southampton Oval, a quartet of Rangers fans carried a black and white striped coffin onto the surrounding field and placed it poignantly behind the PHC bench.

One of the pallbearers explained to onlookers that no offence was intended towards PHC fans but the ritual was a small payback for the end of the 1993-4 season when PHC's 2-1 victory over Rangers all but consigned them to the Second Division.

Humiliating as the scene may have been for the visiting supporters, the truth was that their side were long dead -- the killer a first minute 40-yard shot from Janeiro Tucker that took the mother of all deflections over hapless PHC goalkeeper Ellsworth Bean.

Within a quarter of an hour, Rangers fans were opening up their toolboxes and taking out the nails to batten down the coffin lid as they struck twice in as many minutes.

On 14 minutes, Bean spilled Sheridan Ming's raking free-kick from 25 yards and although Rohaan Simons followed up to shoot against the post, Kwame Tucker was on hand to squeeze the ball over the line. Moments later, Bean lingered too long on the ball and his clearance was charged down by the same player and rebounded over the goal line.

Rangers added a fourth in the 57th minute, substitute Brenton Harris arriving unmarked to head in a corner at the far post, and a fifth two minutes later when Ming blasted in Simons' clever chip.

Kenny Mills pulled one back, hitting an unstoppable shot beyond Randy Darrell a minute later, before PHC's task was made even harder when substitute Christopher Lewis was sent off for a tackle on Simons -- his second bookable offence.

Ricky Mallory took advantage of Darrell's miskick to claim PHC's second in the 66th minute but Rangers went further ahead when Bean flapped Corey Simmons' free kick into his own net. Burgess headed a third for PHC with two minutes remaining.

Rangers: R.Darrell, J.Raynor, N.Grant, P.Brangman, R.Belboda, J.Tucker, C.Simmons, S.Ming, R.Simons, K.Tucker (G.Williams 80 mins), D.Lowe (B.Harris 52 mins).

PHC: E.Bean, D.Rawlins (C.Lewis 23 mins), S.Smith, R.Lewis, B.Bean, B.Anderson (E.Dowling 69 mins), D.Burgess, S.Lewis (M.Smith 45 mins), R.Mallory, S.Astwood, K.Mills.

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.

Men of the match: Kwame Tucker (Rangers); Kenny Mills (PHC).