It was a marked improvement from the 8-0 thrashing last weekend, but not enough to prevent BAA from crashing to their second loss of the season at Wellington Oval.

St. George's were given a good start with two first half goals from Clay Smith and, just when the visitors threatened to steal a point with a second half fightback, Gregg Foggo put the match out of their reach with a splendid third goal in the closing minutes.

BAA made five changes to the team which lost to Village in their opener as Meshach Wade, their scorer yesterday, was moved from midfield to sweeper behind Treadwell Walker to anchor a suspect defence.

And they were holding their own in the first half when Smith scored his and the team's first goal of the season in the 16th minute. It came from a corner on the left which Smith himself won off fullback Robert Pacheco.

The flighted cross from Darrin Walker saw Smith power a free header past Dwayne (Streaker) Adams from about eight yards.

BAA had the ball in the St. George's half often but they lacked ideas in and around the penalty area as their attack missed a dominant striker. With a bit of luck they would have equalised in the 29th minute when Duncan Ashworth's cross from the right went untouched in front of goal before Kirk Butterfield, following up at the far post, blasted his effort well wide.

Then Clevie Critchlow shot wide after goalkeeper Troy Hall had hurried off his line to clean up a defensive lapse in the 43rd minute.

Smith gave St. George's an important second goal two minutes before the break when he collected a square pass from Marlon Outerbridge in the penalty box and with his back to goal turned to put the ball on his favoured left foot before hammering a fierce shot. 'Keeper Adams got his hands to the ball but could not keep it out of his goal -- the 10th goal he has given up in just two matches.

The crossbar denied Foggo a goal from a header to a Walker corner in the 51st minute as the home team, attacking the club end, kept on the offensive.

However a double substitution by BAA in the 55th minute changed things somewhat as Steve Irvine replaced Michael O'Connell and Mark Thorne came on for Kirk Butterfield to allow Pacheco to move into a more attacking role on the left side.

Gradually St. George's went flat as BAA chipped away at the two-goal deficit with determination. Ashworth put a 25 yard shot straight at 'keeper Hall in the 69th minute and just two minutes later the same player helped create their first goal.

Ashworth's shot was deflected for a corner on the right from which sweeper Meshach Wade hammered into the back of the net from close range after the St.

George's defence failed to clear.

Franklyn Greaves was booked for fouling sub Irvine as he tried to race through on the right and then Melvin (Chinky) Simmons was booked for failing to move back 10 yards on a BAA freekick.

The Greens were causing St. George's some anxious moments as Critchlow continued to run at their defence and Foggo's clincher could not have come at a more critical time with just five minutes remaining.

It came from another Walker corner as the ball broke free to Carlos Greaves outside the penalty area. He quickly chipped the ball wide on the right for Foggo to get behind the defender and sidefoot a right-footed shot from an acute angle over the advancing Adams and just under the crossbar.

It was a smart piece of finishing and Foggo was clearly delighted with it, running the length of the pitch to celebrate the goal with his goalkeeper.

St. George's: T.Hall; D.Bailey, A.Todd, P.Bailey, F.Greaves; D.Walker, M.Outerbridge (L.Robinson 75min), C.Greaves; M.Simmons, C.Smith, G.Foggo.

BAA: D.Adams; R.Pacheco, D.Davis, T.Walker, M.Wade; D.Ashworth, T.Smith, A.Thompson; C.Critchlow, M.O'Connell (S.Irvine 55min), K.Butterfield (M.Thorne 55min).

Referee: Rex Osborne.

Men of match: Philip Bailey (St. George's), Duncan Ashworth (BAA).