(Game abandoned after 70 min) Soccer's most profitable competition got off to an inauspicious start last night when a floodlights failure at Devonshire Rec. prompted referee Richard Knight to abandon this Martonmere Cup opener after 70 minutes with Vasco sporting a three goal lead.

Bermuda Football Association will today attempt to deal with another controversial chapter in the Island's number one sport by calling a meeting of their emergency committee to decide what action to take -- whether to schedule a replay or simply award the victory to Vasco.

While it remains uncertain what they will do, BFA officials on hand were dissatisfied and upset with the hasty action taken by Knight to call the game off so quickly, some 10 minutes after the lights went out.

A baffled Secretary General David Sabir said: "I am personally disappointed.

That's all I can say about the decision made here tonight.

"We will be calling an emergency committee meeting right away on Friday and hopefully come to some decision about the outcome of this match.'' What annoyed Sabir more than anything was to see the decision taken without consultation with the BFA's representative on hand, Elroy Ratteray, who was shortly afterwards involved in deliberations with game officials and appeared upset.

Devonshire Rec. had members with electrical knowledge immediately investigate the problem but with little luck, and Belco were subsequently called in, making repairs in time for the second match to begin.

Any chance of having play restarted had the the lights been restored was impossible according to Sabir because the referee had already signalled an end to the game.

Vasco were always willing to resume but naturally Village, with just 20 minutes left, were hopeful of a replay rather than face the inevitable defeat.

Vasco held an emphatic 3-0 lead at the time after glaring errors by the usual dependable goalkeeper Dwayne (Streaker) Adams and forward Nakia Smith aided their cause.

Adams failed to collect a Corey Hill corner after 50 minutes to allow Irving Burgess to score from close range and the second goal came from Hill when the goalkeeper completely missed a free kick cross from Earl Richardson enabling Hill to head home from close in after 68 minutes.

The third goal came a minute later when Sinclair Gibbons' screaming shot from 16 yards went in off a defender.

But Smith should have put Village in front earlier. After 22 minutes he hurried his effort from a cross by Elliott Jennings, only partially getting his boot on the ball and placing it wide of the post from eight yards.

After 35 minutes he again completely miskicked from five yards after Damon Wade created an opening.

North Village: D.Adams; K.Grant, D.Bell, M.Hansey, A.Simons (W.Augustus, 29 mins); S.Franks, D.Wade, E.Jennings; J.Smith (K.Dill, 60 mins), R.Wilson, N.Smith.

Vasco: T.Figureido; D.Stapley, S.Smith, K.Jennings, E.Richardson; F.Simmons (W.Burgess, 66 mins), K.Roberts, S.Gibbons; I.Burgess, D.Basden, C.Hill.

Referee: R.Knight Men of the match: Village -- Elliott Jennings; Vasco -- Corey Hill.