Voorhees Astwood put Vasco safely through to the semi-finals of the Martonmere Cup last night with a late goal in a game at BAA Field which saw both teams have a player sent off for violent conduct.

Referee Esten Curtis gave Marvin Lewis of Colts the red card after 60 minutes for kicking Paul Towlson while Vasco's Dwight Basden got his marching orders four minutes from time for fouling Roydon Holdipp. Both Lewis and Basden were substitutes in the second half.

While a draw would have been sufficient to get Vasco through to the semi-final, they got the victory they deserved when Astwood gratefully accepted a poor clearance from goalkeeper Randy Darrell after 85 minutes and coolly fired the ball home from close range.

From the moment Colts were reduced to 10 men, Vasco showed an increased appetite for goals and pushed forward, pinning the defence down for long spells in the process.

Hard-working midfielder Mark Ray came close for Vasco when his snap left-footed drive from 16 yards went straight at Darrell after 68 minutes and Kentoine Jennings followed up by forcing the 'keeper into a diving save to stop his shot from 15 yards.

Derek Thomas also fired just wide with a fierce drive from similar distance.

With their problems in defence well documented from the start of the season, Colts often looked embarrassingly inept and their fans had little to cheer about for much of the match. Everything in midfield was won by Vasco, spearheaded by Ray, while the Colts' trio of Vic Ball, Ricky Nesbitt and Holdipp accomplished little.

Although holding a clear edge in the proceedings, Vasco also found it difficult to settle down and as a consequence few chances were created in the opening half. Colts did come close to grabbing an equaliser after 87 minutes when Ellington Weldon's fine header from a Craig Smith corner was snatched by the efficient Tim Figureido in the Vasco goal. But Vasco responded and Ray had his shot cleared off the goal-line by Holdipp right at the end.

With their midfield out of touch Colts accomplished little up front. Their best chance came early when left full-back Anthony Wilson struck the post from 16 yards after 27 minutes.

Otherwise the Vasco defence coped well with the few raids that Weldon and Craig Smith, the two front runners for Colts, managed to pull off.

Vasco: T.Figureido; S.Gibbons, K.Jennings, D.Livingston, E.Richardson; M.Ray, F.Simmons (P.Towlson, 54 mins), W.Burgess; D.Thomas, I.Burgess (D.Basden, 70 mins), V.Astwood.

Devonshire Colts: R.Darrell; D.Williams, R.Tota, L.Hypolite, A.Wilson; R.Nesbitt (J.Belboda, 63 mins), V.Ball, R.Holdipp; J.Pace (M.Lewis, 53 mins), E.Weldon, C.Smith.

Referee: Esten Curtis.

Men of the match: Mark Ray (Vasco); Anthony Wilson (Devonshire Colts).

VOORHEES ASTWOOD -- late goal for Vasco.