If Devonshire Colts' New Year's resolution was to play distasteful soccer, they were more than successful during yesterday's pitiful effort at PHC Stadium.

In what has to rank as their worst performance of the season, Colts were beaten by three goals and it could have been much more but for a few timely interventions by goalkeeper Randy Darrell.

Vasco's problems in league play have been well documented, so this result was a most pleasing way to begin the second half of the season.

Mark Ray and Irving Burgess gave the hosts a 2-0 lead at the half, and it should have been more. Then Kenny Dill headed home from close range before Shannon Burgess gave Colts a glimmer of hope.

But Earl Richardson's direct free kick put matters in perspective near the end as Colts were left to survey what could be a difficult road ahead.

Colts' poor form, of course, had something to do with Vasco who were positive throughout. They dominated every phase of the match through Donovan Livingston and Kentoine Jennings at the back, Karl Roberts and Ray in the midfield and Corey Hill and Irving Burgess up front.

But, still, Colts should have had a say in the proceedings.

They were without their best players in Ellington Weldon and Leonard Hypolite, and Craig Smith, Colts' only real threat on the pitch played far too deep to make an impression.

With nothing in the way of precision passing, it was little surprise they were sunk without a trace.

But even before they fell to this new low, Colts' tactical errors led to Vasco jumping out in front with two goals four minutes apart.

Ray beat the offside trap on the end of a Livingston pass and coolly lobbed Darrell from 15 yards in the 15th minute.

Still not recovered, Colts again were stung by the trap, this time Irving Burgess receiving a Livingston pass, picking his spot and hitting a neat half-volley to the right of Darrell's flailing dive.

Darrell came to Colts' rescue on the half-hour when his legs denied a marauding Richardson after a clever pass from Dill.

Irving Burgess then side-footed over in the 36th minute after Hill made all the running and crossed from the left.

Vasco should have been three up a few minutes later but, after superbly beating his man and slipping the ball past the 'keeper, Hill impeded Darrell thus nullifying Dill's goal.

That was the only break Colts got on the day as Darrell was never going to be in position to prevent the goal.

Colts failed to capitalise on their fortune as their play continued to lack purpose.

A perfect example of their plight was that substitute Ray Jones' left-footed shot on the stroke of half-time, which Timmy Figureido easily saved, was Colts first on target.

Colts began the second half as if they wanted to improve but their fate was already sealed.

Walton Burgess shot just over in the 53rd minute after being put clear by an inventive Hill and Vasco's third came three minutes later.

This time Darrell was found wanting as a Ray corner from the right was headed in by Dill only two yards out.

Colts replied in the 61st minute after Richardson cleared Jones' corner off the line. The ball was knocked goalward and redirected past Figureido by Shannon Burgess.

This was only to be a mild setback for Vasco who marched forward from the kick-off and saw Hill hit the outside of Darrell's left-hand post.

Play meandered for a good 15 minutes before the excitement level picked up, thanks in no small part to Figureido. Called to race out of his area to head a ball clear from Aljame Zuill, the goalkeeper was drawn into successive headers from Colts players until he somehow found himself 15 yards in the other half of the field.

Colts centre-half Derek Wright dispossessed and then elected to pass the ball forward instead of shooting. By the time Zuill finally settled on the ball and turned it goalward from 25 yards, Livingston had backtracked into the vacant goal area and casually saved before passing off.

After this play it was certain not to be Colts' day. Seconds earlier, Darrell made what normally would have been an inspirational save from Hill after some typically robust work from Irving Burgess.

The final dagger came with four minutes left when a poorly-constructed defensive wall left Darrell exposed and Richardson's low free kick nestled into the left-hand corner.

Vasco: T.Figureido; E.Richardson, D.Livingston, K.Jennings, D.Stapley; M.Ray, K.Roberts, W.Burgess; C.Hill (F.Simmons, 80 mins), K.Dill (D.Basden, 63 mins), I.Burgess.

Devonshire Colts: R.Darrell; A.Wilson, M.Hollis, D.Wright, K.Burchall; J.Smith (R.Jones, 38 mins), D.Williams (S.Waldron, 64 mins), S.Burgess; K.Lawrence, C.Smith, A.Zuill.

Referee: Kenneth Perinchief.

Men of the match: Donovan Livingston (Vasco); Shannon Burgess (Devonshire Colts).