After losing to St. George's in six of their last eight league matches stretching back to the 1992-93 season, Devonshire Colts came into this game at Wellington Oval determined to get their own back.

By the time it was all over, they had gained sweet revenge and taken over the Coca Cola First Division leadership in the process after the margin of victory enabled them to stay ahead of Vasco on goal difference.

A match between two longtime rivals was expected to be as close and competitive as those in previous meetings of late, but that was never the case after Colts sprinted into a 5-0 lead by the half and then added two more in the second for good measure.

Striker Ellington Weldon shot Colts in front in the sixth minute following a cross from the right by full back Jermal Belboda which was only half-cleared by Darrin Walker. Weldon, on the edge of the box, got the ball under control and beat 'keeper Gregory Smith with a shot inside the post.

What was to follow was never anticipated as St. George's looked inventive during the opening minutes. But a Colts victory began to look more certain after midfielder Keenan Burchall made it 2-0 with a long range shot that was half blocked but had enough power on it to carry towards goal and catch Smith off his line before going in under the bar.

Burchall had a hand in the third in the 33rd minute by Vic Ball who slid the ball under the body of Smith from inside the box.

Suspended captain Neil Paynter proved a big miss in the St. George's defence which was exposed again in the 39th minute when a well executed goal made it 4-0 for the visitors. Keimon Lawrence's inswinging corner on the right found Keishon Smith at the near post. He flicked the ball up and over towards the far post where Weldon's downward header found the target.

Three minutes before the break Colts got a fifth when Mark Ray picked up possession and raced towards the box before unselfishly passing to Keishon Smith who hit the net with a low shot.

Before St. George's had time to organise themselves in the second half, Colts scored again when Lawrence netted after another quick break.

An excellent build-up produced the seventh in the 61st minute when Jermal Belboda's diagonal cross to the far post found Lawrence. He picked out Ray with his cross into the box and Ray sidefooted home from a sharp angle.

After that referee Gary Cook was kept busy with his yellow card as McKonnen Hollis of Colts and Dwayne Richardson, Wright and Outerbridge of St. George's were all booked for fouls.

Colts' performance was tarnished by Jermal Belboda's sending off for throwing a punch in retaliation after a 72nd minute challenge by Anthony Darrell.

St. George's: G.Smith, K.Moreno, D.Wright, Q.Francis, D.Bailey, M.Outerbridge, D.Richardson, D.Walker, C.Smith, W.Richardson (R.Steede 53 mins), J.Laws (A.Darrell 45 mins).

Dev. Colts: T.Hall, Jermal Belboda, M.Hollis, S.Burgess, Jermaine Belboda, K.Burchall (A.Payne 82 mins), V.Ball, K.Smith, M.Ray J.Ming 85 mins), K.Lawrence (D.Iris 76 mins), E.Weldon.

Referee: Gary Cook Men of match: St. George's -- Derek Wright; Dev. Colts -- Mark Ray