A young Dandy Town side recovered from conceding an early goal to signal defending champions Vasco would not have it all their own way this season on the opening day of the Coca Cola First Division campaign at BAA Field yesterday.

McLee Smith capped a battling performance by taking advantage of a moment's inattention in the Vasco defence to blast home an equaliser in the 56th minute after Dwight Basden's second-minute opener suggested it was business as usual for last year's treble winners.

And although that gave Town greater confidence going forward -- Town boss Mark Trott introducing the powerful figure of former Hotels striker Joseph Weeks to bump up his attack -- either side could have clinched all three points in a pulsating finish to the game.

First, the influential Reggie Tucker blasted just wide of the angle of post and crossbar from eight yards out when the ball fell to him from a goalmouth scramble. Then, in the final minute, the same player got to a near post corner to flick the ball seemingly into the far corner of the net, only to see Wayne Augustus head his effort off the line.

At the other end, Basden dragged an effort across the face of the goal with the net at his mercy, before Otis Steede's stunning volley from 20 yards deep into stoppage time almost sent goalkeeper Jason Smith flying.

In the first half, however, it looked like Vasco would pick up where they left off last season when they won the traditional treble of league title, FA Cup and Friendship Trophy, as well as the Dudley Eve.

Ascento Russell and Dwight Basden were joined up front by Raynel Lightbourne, Vasco's signing from Devonshire Cougars. And the new combination looked threatening from the word go.

With barely two minutes gone Russell was allowed to advance too far unchallenged through the middle. He hit a low drive from 20 yards which beat Smith but cannoned back off the the foot of the goalkeeper's right hand post.

Basden reacted quickly to knock the rebound home.

Basden then combined well with Lightbourne and Russell arrived late to see his powerful goal-bound shot blocked. With just nine minutes on the clock, Basden again caused havoc in the Town defence but he was unable to turn to get his shot on target.

Town found it hard to get into the game but after half an hour Cecil Wilkinson, with his back to goal, laid off an inviting ball for Lionel Furbert, whose shot lacked the power to trouble Timmy Figureido.

Within minutes Russell and Lightbourne both had chances to increase Vasco's lead. First Russell shot into the side netting when set up by Lightbourne's ball across the six-yard line, before a deep ball from Augustus caught out the Dandy Town defence and Lightbourne, at full stretch, volleyed just off target.

Then, moments before the break, central defender Diallo Sharieff, late of Hotels, thundered a 35-yard free kick against the underside of the Town crossbar.

The second half had been relatively uneventful when Town suddenly forced their way back into the game.

Tucker found himself in space on the edge of the Vasco box and had options either side of him. He opted to play the ball into the path of McLee Smith on the right and he gave Figureido no chance with his low angled shot.

The goal lifted Smith's side and Hays Wolfe on the left and Kris Martin on the right began to cause some anxious moments in the Vasco back line.

The usually reliable Kentoine Jennings twice found himself under pressure, seeing a casual clearance intercepted by Furbert only for the Town player to shoot wildly when well-placed and then misdirecting a ball across the six-yard box which Devarr Boyles returned into the side netting.

With eight minutes remaining, Town missed a great opportunity to seal a winning start. Boyles escaped the attentions of Augustus down the right, played a perfect ball into the path of Wolde Place 14 yards out, but the substitute's accurate shot was defelected agonisingly wide with Figureido motionless.

Town coach Trott, though, was happy to settle for a point. He said afterwards: "Vasco and one or two other teams that had positive results today are going to be thereabouts at the end of the season and you have to make sure when you play teams like that you don't come out on the losing end.

"I keep hearing about other sides having young teams, but what you have to remember is we only had four players who were regulars in the team last year -- everybody else was more or less making their debut.'' And he suggested it was his side's own efforts that won them the a point rather than over-confidence by Vasco.

"Vasco came out with a lot of pride and to their credit they scored early.

But they didn't take their foot off the pedal, they made us battle back into the game.

"They never eased up, they made us bring our game up to a level that we needed to.'' Vasco: T.Figureido, D.Sharrieff, Kn Jennings, T.Dickenson, W.Augustus, O.Steede, Ke Jennings (D.Robinson 63 mins), T.Outerbridge, A.Russell, D.Basden, R.Lightbourne (L.Durham 84 mins).

Dandy Town: J.Smith, D.Bailey, D.Outerbridge, W.Rudo, L.Furbert, H.Wolfe, D.Boyles, R.Tucker, K.Martin (L.Simmons 73 mins), M.Smith (W.Place 78 mins), C.Wilkinson (J.Weeks 57 mins).

Referee: L.Raynor Men of the match Keith Jennings (Vasco); Reggie Tucker (Dandy Town).