Dandy Town got back to winning ways with their first victory in six Premier League outings after they first let a two-goal lead slip at a rain-lashed St John's Field yesterday.

But Vasco will feel that they got the raw end of a couple of refereeing decisions -- with a number of players making their feelings known in no uncertain terms to official Richard Knights afterwards.

The controversies, however, should not detract from what ultimately turned out to be a compelling and hard-fought encounter, despite the driving wind and rain.

Town had both behind them in the first half, helping them to build a two goal lead by the break.

The first, after 24 minutes of predominantly scrappy football, came when Knights pointed to the spot after Darron Simons' low cross appeared to hit a hand and the impressive Carlos Smith confidently accepted the opportunity.

Kumar Smith's protests were too vociferous and he became the first of three names to be recorded in the referee's notebook.

Four minutes later, Town defender Sean Smith went close to making it two with a spectacular wind-assisted left-foot volley from all of 40 yards which dipped just wide of Figuerido's left-hand post.

But Town got their second in the 37th minute as Heys Wolfe cut inside two men from the left and squared the ball to Devarr Boyles near the penalty spot.

Bermuda national team midfielder Boyles took the slightest of controlling touches before lashing a clinical low shot past Figuerido.

Vasco coach John Rebello made an attacking change at the start of the second half, removing left back Albert Caisey and replacing him with an extra front runner in Irwin Burgess, who immediately began asking new questions of the Town defence with his willing sprints into the channels.

It was Burgess who provided the flick on for Keith Jennings, who got to the ball ahead of goalkeeper Antoine Lightbourne, but could only squeeze the effort a foot wide.

But Jennings was to win the next battle, four minutes later, using the wind to float a free kick 40 yards out on the left hand touchline over Lightbourne for Vasco's first reply.

And the defending champions pulled themselves level 16 minutes later after forcing a succession of corners.

From the last of these, Lightbourne came out to punch clear but didn't get enough distance. Burgess lifted a lobbed header back goalwards and, despite the presence of three men on the line, Town could not keep it out.

Vasco then had appeals for a penalty of their own turned down when a player appeared to be upended on the edge of the box, and just three minutes later Town regained the lead after forcing a corner from a speedy raid.

Boyles drilled the flag kick to the edge of the area, where Dean Bailey shot, saw the ball spin off a Vasco head and into the path of Simons, who applied the finishing touch.

Five minutes from time, Raymond Beach, star of last year's national under 17 team, was given an opportunity to show what he could do.

He didn't need long, being in the right place two minutes later as a low centre from the left eluded two Vasco defenders to slide the ball home to make it 4-2.

Dandy Town: A.Lightbourne, D.Bailey, S.Smith, L.Christopher, W.Rudo, L.Furbert, P.Douglas (R.Tucker 62 mins), D.Boyles, H.Wolfe, D.Simons, C.Smith (R.Beach 85 mins) Vasco: T.Figuerido, T.Dickensen, A.Caisey (I.Burgess 45 mins), K.Burchall, A.Tyrell, K.Smith, K.Jennings, J.Belboda, C.Anderson (J.Smith 77 mins), D.Basden, S.Gibbons Referee: Richard Knights Men of the match: Carlos Smith (Dandy Town); Irwin Burgess (Vasco) Yellow cards: Sean Smith, Reggie Tucker (Dandy Town); Kumar Smith (Vasco).