Even without four starters because of the 'flu bug, Devonshire Colts proved too good for Vasco on Saturday night at PHC Stadium when two second half goals carried them back to the top of the Coca Cola First Division.

Colts, minus the likes of Jermel Belboda, Jahmah Samuels, Keenan Burchall, Aljame Zuill, Anthony Wilson and college student Quincy Aberdeen, dug deep into their reserves for this important match against the league champions.

Former captain and coach Lorenzo Symonds had his first start of the season and played admirably in midfield while Sekai Waldron was a capable replacement for Belboda at full back.

Colts dominated with Symonds' experience boosting their midfield. But the Vasco defence kept Colts' chances to a minimum as the best opportunity for a goal didn't come until the 34th minute when Vic Ball shot wide from 25 yards after the ball had been knocked around on the edge of the Vasco penalty area.

Five minutes later Ball missed an even better chance when he started a Colts move near the halfway line and then pushed forward to receive a return pass which put him in the box and behind the Vasco defence. However, he mishit a weak shot past the post as goalkeeper Timmy Figureido came off his line.

It proved third time lucky for Ball seven minutes into the second half when he made amends with a well taken goal. Keeping his composure after a pass from Waldron on the right opened the Vasco defence, Ball got inside the penalty area and calmly tucked his shot past Figureido.

Chances came in abundance after that as Vasco tried to stem the tide by bringing on Sinclair Gibbons for Shawn Smith in the 58th minute and then youngster Alex DaCosta for Franklyn Simmons in the 73rd.

One of the few clear cut chances for Vasco in the second half came when Waldron's pass was intercepted and Sammy Swan and Irving Burgess raced upfield before Burgess fired wide from a good position inside the box.

That miss would prove costly as Colts stretched their lead in the 79th minute when Gibbons scored in his own goal at the far post following a Colts free kick on the left side by Keimon Lawrence.

Mark Ray went close to adding a third two minutes later when his shot from an angle beat Figureido but hit the post.

Referee Gary Cooke made three bookings, Keishon Smith of Colts in the first half, Burgess in the second half for a foul on Smith and then Waldron in the last minute for a foul on Burgess.

Vasco: T.Figureido, D.Stapley, T.Dickinson, K.Jennings, E.Richardson, F.Simmons (A.DaCosta 73 mins), S.Smith (S.Gibbons 58 mins), V.Astwood, I.Burgess, S.Swan, C.Hill.

Dev.Colts: T.Hall, Jermaine Belboda, M.Hollis, S.Burgess, S.Waldron, K.Smith, L.Symonds (J.Richmond 83 mins), V.Ball, K.Lawrence, E.Weldon, M.Ray.

Referee: Gary Cooke.

Men of match: Kentoine Jennings (Vasco), Sekai Waldron (Colts).