To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of Vasco's demise have been greatly exaggerated.

After posting just one win in their past five games, the defending First Division champions -- and this year's pre-season favourites -- have been an easy target for assorted naysayers.

So what they did do yesterday? Merely lay a 3-1 beating on PHC Zebras. And merely move into a tie for first place with Devonshire Colts, although the latter, 7-0 winners over St. George's, get the nod by virtue of goal difference.

PHC, who were atop the table heading into the match, know all about Vasco's vaunted explosiveness; after all, the Zebras were routed 4-0 in Vasco's only other win of the past four weeks.

Yesterday's was a little slower in arriving. Down 1-0 at the half, Vasco erupted for three goals in the second 45 minutes, two of them with the Zebras down to ten men.

But make no mistake, this was one game they deserved to win.

Vasco spotted PHC a goal by Sheridan Ming four minutes in, then spent the next 86 trying to figure out how to beat 'keeper Jay Smith.

The dam finally broke in the 61st minute. Substitute Steven Arorash collected an Irving Burgess throw-in from the right, then sent a long cross over to a slumping Corey Hill, who managed to redirect it with his right foot as he was being hauled down.

Burgess scored the winner in the 75th minute, just five minutes after referee Stuart Crockwell had sent PHC midfielder Raynell Lightbourne to the showers with his second caution of the match, this one for nailing Earl Richardson from behind.

A long ball, slightly touched along the way by Sammy Swan, found Burgess streaking down the right side, and the speedy winger stroked a long shot into the far corner.

Burgess supplied some insurance in the 86th minute, when Hill, shifted to the right wing from the left after Franklyn Simmons came on for Swan, lofted a cross over to Voorhees Astwood. Astwood quickly tapped back to Burgess, who sent a shot though a crowd inside the far post.

That goal was almost needed. Two horrible defensive breakdowns in the final ten minutes nearly allowed PHC another goal, as first Ottis Steede and then Kenny Mills were allowed to weave their way through a stationary back four.

The Vasco eruption helped make amends for a first half that saw them miss enough chances to last the next three games. Dwight Basden was the biggest culprit, with four gilt-edged opportunities.

PHC: J.Smith, E.Hunt, C.Dowling, D.Outerbridge, D.Burgess, B.Anderson (K.Mills 54 mins), O.Steede, S.Ming, R.Lightbourne, W.Trott, S.Simons.

Vasco: T.Figureido, K.Jennings, P.Towlson, E.Richardson, D.Stapley, V.Astwood, S.Smith (S.Gibbons 82 mins), I.Burgess, S.Swan (F.Simmons 80 mins), D.Basden (S.Arorash 59 mins), C.Hill.

Men of the match: Irving Burgess (Vasco), Jay Smith (PHC) Referee: Stuart Crockwell.