Not even the presence of three college students in the PHC team -- of whom one scored -- could help ease their relegation worries at PHC Stadium yesterday as the Zebras slipped back to the bottom of the standings.

Their ninth loss in 13 league outings leaves them three points adrift of Devonshire Cougars, as leaders Vasco hit back from Stanton Lewis' opener to turn the match around with three goals in nine minutes late in the first half.

Vasco thus extended their lead to five points after second-placed Boulevard drew and North Village in third third place went down to bottom team Cougars.

Desperate for points after hearing of Somerset's win the night before, PHC looked a determined side from the outset as they were boosted by the inclusion of students Lewis, Blenn Bean and Desmond Burgess. And both Kenny Mills and Ricky Mallory gave the Vasco defence problems early on.

But it was Vasco who had the first chance of the match after just 35 seconds when a ball into the PHC box came off the back of defender Corey Dowling and Ascento Russell drove a low shot across goal and just past the far post.

PHC gave Vasco a lesson in finishing in the 22nd minute when a move started by Dowling resulted in a pass to the far side where Kenny Mills laid the ball back for Lewis who planted a left foot shot inside the post.

That lesson was heeded as Vasco came to life and changed the match between the 33rd and 42nd minutes when they scored three unanswered goals to stun the Zebras.

All the Vasco goals came down the left side, including the first two from free kicks outside the penalty area. The first arrived after Vasco were awarded a free kick when Dwight Basden was fouled.

Ascento Russell's shot got through and when goalkeeper Quincey Hunt parried the ball, Clay Smith was quick to pounce and fire home the rebound from close range.

Another free kick, this time about 30 yards from goal, penetrated the Zebras defence with former PHC player Otis Steede's kick finding the net as Smith tried to connect with a header. Referee Lawrence DeShields confirmed afterwards that Steede's shot went in untouched.

PHC fell even further behind three minutes before the break when Earl Richardson was involved in a move down the left and squared the ball back for Russell to tap in from close range.

PHC brought on Steven Astwood for Eddy Dowling early in the second half as they kept looking for goals and they did cut the Vasco lead in the 67th minute with a disputed goal from a corner on the left.

Mallory's header towards goal was headed off the line by Derek Stapley standing at the far post but referee DeShields signalled that the ball had crossed the line. Despite protests from several Vasco players the goal stood and PHC got within a goal of snatching a point.

Vasco: T.Figureido; E.Richardson, Kent.Jennings, C.Sharman, D.Stapley, O.Steede, V.Astwood, S.Gibbons, A.Russell (S.Swan 76 mins), C.Smith (T.Dickinson 84 mins), D.Basden.

PHC: Q.Hunt; E.Hunt, D.Burgess, R.Lewis, C.Dowling, B.Anderson (M.Smith 75 mins), S.Lewis, B.Bean, R.Mallory, K.Mills, E.Dowling (S.Astwood 53 mins).

Referee: Lawrence DeShields.

Men of the match: Otis Steede (Vasco), Desmond Burgess (PHC).

Dandy Town 1 Hotels 0 Darron (Duke) Simons came up with the winning goal after 76 minutes to deny Hotels what would have been a deserved share of the points from this First Division match at St. John's Field yesterday.

In an often dour game, Simons settled matters when substitute Damon Ming crossed from the right and the Town striker netted from close range.

Simons should have made it 2-0 a minute from time but his hurried attempt from an angle on the left, with goalkeeper Stefan Dupras out of goal, went wide of the post.

Amazingly the only chance in the opening half came after eight minutes when Craig Crichlow's hard low drive from 17 yards was saved by Town goalkeeper Antoine Lightbourne, diving to his left.

Town's front pair of Simons and Chris Anderson threatened with some fine runs but the attacks invariably petered out.

Town took an edge when play re-started with Simons breaking through the middle only to see the advancing Dupras briliantly block his blast from close range after 48 minutes.

Four minutes later Town were again denied when Kris Martin's shot from 16 yards was saved by the 'keeper.

But these chances awoke Hotels who then came into the game with increasing momentum.

After 67 minutes winger Dion Wainwright found an opening for Marlon Lindsay who blew an easy chance by putting his shot from 15 yards wide of the post.

Four minutes later there was further agony for Hotels when centre back Diallo Sharieff's free kick from 22 yards thundered against the bar before being cleared of danger.

But it was Town who persevered, regrouping after these two scares and snatching the points.

Dandy Town: A.Lightbourne; L.Fubert, D.Outerbridge, J.Marshall, D.Bailey; J.Wilkinson, P.Cann (M.Trott, 62 mins), H.Wolfe, K.Martin (D.Ming, 62 mins); D.Simons, C.Anderson.

Hotels: S.Dupras; W.Crockwell, D.Sharieff, C.Roberts, F.Francis, S.Boyles; M.Holdipp, J.Weeks; D.Wainwright, M.Lindsay, C.Crichlow.

Referee: Lyndon Raynor.

Men of the match: Darron Simons (Dandy Town); Diallo Sharieff (Hotels).