Vasco began the defence of their league title with a scare at PHC Stadium last night as important lessons were learned by both teams.

St. David's blew a half-time lead as 10-men Vasco struck twice in the space of seven minutes to turn the match around.

Taking promoted St. David's a bit too lightly almost cost the champions as they started to lose their cool in a tense first half.

After a late start because of a colour clash in the teams' jerseys whichj required Vasco to send for new tops, things turned bad for the champions in the 15th minute when midfielder Frankie Simmons was sent off for spitting at a St. David's player after committing a foul.

Three minutes later St. David's made them pay when James Pace, returning to the team from St. George's All-Stars in the Commercial League, scored with a firm shot into the bottom corner.

Vasco had the better of the pressure before those two incidents, which set the stage for an interesting contest. Billy Kirkpatrick shot over the bar as Vasco began to battle back.

Then Keith Jennings took the ball off Derek Stapley in the St. David's half before runnning towards the Vasco goal and getting off a shot from the edge of the penalty area that was deflected for a corner.

Things got ugly again for Vasco two minutes before the break when referee Richard Knight was summonsed to the touchline by linesman George O'Brien and ordered assistant coach Donovan Livingston off for swearing at the linesman.

St. David's were forced to make their first substitution at the same time as Otis (O.J.) Minors came off in pain, having taken an elbow to the ribs earlier.

Things seemed to get even worst for Vasco in the second half when, with just 30 seconds elapsed, Kentoine Jennings went down with what looked a serious leg injury after an awkward challenge.

To the relief of Vasco he was able to resume after treatment which, to St.

David's credit, had sportingly been offered by their trainer Terry Paynter.

Vasco's players turned it down.

Trevor Dickinson was noticeably pushing forward regularly from his central defensive position and came close to scoring in the 48th minute after working a one-two with Sammy Swan inside the box.

The equaliser, which had been threatened, did come in the 55th minute when a freekick on the left by Sinclair Gibbons -- filling in at leftback for the injured Earl Richardson -- was flighted into the box. Dale Fox in goal failed to take control of the situation as the ball was allowed to bounce in the penalty area and Jennings pounced to level the score.

Dickinson came within inches of adding a second in the 61st minute when Irving Burgess laid off a pass and he smashed a shot from 20 yards against the crossbar.

St. David's were now struggling to hold on as moments later a freeick into the box saw Jennings bring a good reflex save out of Fox with his free header from just a few yards.

A second Vasco goal was inevitable and it came a minute later when from the resulting corner on the right, the ball was played short to Gibbons and his lob into the box again beat Fox before going in off the far post.

St. David's, with Keith Jennings stepping it up in midfield, offered late resistence as the minutes ticked away but Vasco hung on for their fourth win of the season. In the process, though, St. David's will have earned some respect.

Vasco: T.Figureido; D.Stapley, T.Dickinson, Ken.Jennings, S.Gibbons; F.Simmons, S.Smith, B.Kirkpatrick (P.Towlson 75min); C.Hill (A.DeCosta 86min), S.Swan (D.Basden 71min), I.Burgess.

St. David's: D.Fox; S.Pitcher, D.Hollis, J.Warren, J.Thomas; T.Weeks (C.Simmons 76min), E.Wolffe, Kei.Jennings; O.Minors (S.Goater 43min), J.Pace, L.Cann.

Referee: Richard Knight.

Men of match: Sinclair Gibbons (Vasco), Jamel Warren (St. David's).

Social Club 1 Somerset 5 Relegated Somerset Trojans began life in the Second Division with a resounding victory over Social Club in the opening contest.

The Trojans, relegated for the first time last season, virtually sealed the points by half-time after a comfortable 4-0 lead, thanks to goals by Richard Scott (25th minute), Everett Wellman (31st) and Kevin Bailey (38th and 42nd).

Kenwick Butterfield pulled one back for Social Club in the 62nd minute before Michael Arorash made it five for the Trojans eight minutes from the end.