Vasco, riding the crest of two successive victories, paid a visit to the Wellington Oval and made light work of new victims St. George's Colts 1-0.

It was a convincing win as they played a methodical game from start to finish and ran away with their third straight win, courtesy of a 25th-minute strike from Earl Richardson.

Richardson sent an ominuous, early warning to St. George's when he whistled a shot just past the right upright in the second minute of play. In fact, it was Richardson and his swarming team-mates who took it straight to St.

George's and dictated play throughout much of the game while allowing the home side little room to generate any offense.

Vasco should have captured the lead in the 20th minute of play. However, a weak shot from Albert Wolffe from near the penalty spot trickled wide after he found himself alone with plenty of time to shoot.

Richardson would atone for Wolffe's miscue four minutes later when he received a good one-two pass from Irving Burgess. Richardson was able to turn Neil Paynter around in the penalty area and power his shot into the `pigeon-hole' leaving goalkeeper Troy Hall no chance.

Vasco opened the second half in the same fashion as the first, with short, crisp passing and tight defending.

Paul Towlson provided a stellar performance as he controlled everything in the air, while his team-mates took a page from the St. George's defensive playbook, repelling all offensive ground assaults.

Ten minutes into the second half, Melvin Simmons made a great effort only to see his header go whistling over the crossbar after receiving a cross from Quinton Francis. Three minutes later Simmons sent a weak grounder directly at the 'keeper from 10 yards out, squandering another opportunity. In the 70th minute, St. George's 'keeper Hall, came off his line to corral a high, arching cross. When he mistimed his leap, the ball fell to the feet of Antonio Cabral, who shot well over the goal from some six yards out.

Again, St. George's nearly provided the equaliser when Sinclair Gibbons made a long run down the wing and squared the ball directly in front of goal to a waiting Paynter. But the skipper could only get a toe on the ball as it popped up and over the crossbar, blowing St.George's best chance on the afternoon.

The remaining 10 minutes saw Paynter abandon his customary sweeper position to aid in their attack. His presence up front changed the flow of the game somewhat. Yet, it was not enough to impact the outcome as Vasco continued in their renewed determination to salvage some measure of respectability from this season.

St. George's: T.Hall, N.Paynter, G.Foggo, C.Greaves, F.Greaves, S.Gibbons, M.Simmons (K.Smith, 70 mins) A.Todd, D.Bailey, Q.Francis (M.Outerbridge, 63 mins) D.Walker.

Vasco: K.Tucker, I.Burgess, P.Towlson, K.Roberts (V.Astwood, 35 mins) C.Lloyd, A.Wolffe, C.Ainscough, D.Livingston, L.Durham (A.Cabral, 62 mins), D.Thomas, E.Richardson.

Men of the match: Andre Todd (St. George's); Paul Towlson (Vasco).

Referee: Esten Curtis.

ON THE RUN -- Vasco goal-scorer Earl Richardson, right, is on his way past Sinclair Gibbons.