Tuesday night's loss to St. George's was good for Bermuda football, Vasco coach John Rebello admitted the day after his team's 2-1 defeat in the Friendship Trophy.

But for those teams planning to take liberties with the First Division leaders, he has a message: "If any teams thinks they are going to come and beat us they've got another thing coming.'' A large crowd turned up at Devonshire Rec. for the opening friendship Trophy match and watched St. George's end Vasco's unbeaten streak at 10 games. One got the feeling that an upset was on the cards when even the match ball -- which doesn't come back much these days at most night venues -- kept returning after going over the boundary fences. Most at the ground wanted to see a St.

George's victory, if only to prove that Vasco could still be beaten.

"At any other time for a Vasco-St. George's Friendship game you would probably have had about 100 people out there but it was a real big crowd,'' said Rebello.

Vasco took the loss in their stride, with coach Rebello admitting the better team won on the night even though Vasco created more clear cut chances in the second half.

"Most of the players handled the loss pretty good, the guys were a little disappointed but I think most had been preparing themselves for this day,'' said the coach.

"At the end of the day we had the chances but the better team won. In a way it's a blessing and I think it was good for local football.

"It just so happened that it was Vasco who had the (unbeaten) run but it would have been nice for any team to have that run.'' Clearly the east enders were determined to get their own back after a string of losses to Vasco in the last couple of seasons. In fact it has been two years since St. George's last beat them.

With the teams still to meet twice more this season in the league the stage is being set for at least two more classic encounters.

"I'm really proud of the guys,'' said a delighted Troy Hall after the win.

The goalkeeper and captain was seldom given time to relax as Vasco mounted one attack after another in their desperate attempt to stretch their unbeaten streak one game further.

"We fought very hard and deserved the victory,'' said Hall. "We should have had at least four.

"They kept coming and didn't give up and that's why they are on top.

Hopefully this will break their spell.'' Even in defeat Vasco looked a class outfit and with the likes of Paul Towlson and Voorhees Astwood making their first appearances of the season, their squad now has greater depth. Also in the Vasco 16 on Tuesday was Shane Burgess, another former Hamilton Parish player.

Vasco were getting close to matching the unbeaten streak enjoyed by Dandy Town two years ago when they had a 15-match run between December and March on their way to winning the league title in 1993-94.

But trying to extend the streak was only putting more pressure on Vasco as other teams lifted their own game when playing them.

"The pressure is off us now and I think we can go ahead and just concentrate on playing our ball,'' said Rebello.

"In the games I've seen us play -- and we've played some attractive football -- we've made teams like Dandy Town, St. George's and PHC really play some good football, some of the better football they will probably play all season.'' All eyes will be on Somerset this weekend when they take on Vasco at PHC Stadium.

"All I can say is on the day may the best eleven win,'' said Rebello. "We're going out to play Somerset to get three points and if Somerset beats us so be it but we're not going to roll over for any team.'' Added Rebello: "Every team wanted to come out and stress the point that we're only mere mortals, which we are, and it brought a lot of excitement back into the game. Fans didn't come out because they were St. George's fans or Vasco fans, and it was great to see.

"Even last night with the boos and cheers it felt like you were watching an English game. I haven't experienced that in years.

"This game and the one against Dandy Town at Somerset in the Martonmere Cup rank as two of the top games and the first goal St. George's scored probably goes down as one of the best goals I've seen in a long time.'' SCORER -- Marlon Outerbridge, left, whose fifth minute scorcher was one of the best of the season.