Jerry Laws struck the lone goal as St. David's fought off a spirited challenge from Second Division leaders Vasco at St. David's.

Vasco's abundance of experience and talent always looked to be more than enough to put paid to any hopes that the east-enders might have had of advancing into the next round.

But it was not to be for the visitors as St. David's matched them in every department; they absorbed the early pressure that Vasco exerted and came roaring back with their own to steal the victory midway through the second half.

Vasco full-back Earl Richardson had a great chance to open the scoring almost right from the opening kick-off but he lifted his volley from the edge of the penalty area well high of the goal.

Goalkeeper Dale Fox was on hand next to deny Vasco's Derek Thomas whose low drive the 'keeper managed to turn around the post for a corner. From the resulting free kick the ball fell to Larance Durham who miserably lifted the ball over the goal with Fox well out of position.

The striker followed this up with another good effort that saw him turn quickly to drill a fine volley right into the arms of the 'keeper.

St. David's defended well in the first half but could do little on offence with the solid defensive wall of Paul Towlson and Donovan Livingston confronting them.

Albert Steede overlapped down the right wing from his full-back position to drift a cross into the Vasco six-yard box that eluded goalkeeper Gerald Sims collected under a challenge from Laws.

Steede also had a hand in the next chance as another one of his crosses fell to Kanhai Fray who sent his volley inches high of the target.

At the other end, Vasco's first chance of the second half saw Durham send his quickly-taken snap shot bouncing just past the St. David's upright with Fox scrambling to regain his position.

It was from the resulting restart that the home team finally took the lead.

Again it was Steede who started the play down the right side with a defence-splitting pass to substitute Patrick White. At the right moment he flighted a beautiful ball over the advancing goalkeeper to the far post where it was met by Laws with a header into the back of the net.

In the 80th minute Vasco came as close as they were ever to come when a point-blank shot from Colin Lloyd near the six-yard line was headed away by Eugene Crockwell right on the goal-line.

To complete Vasco's misery on the day the match was stopped only two minutes from the final whistle when Scott Morton sustained what looked to be a serious neck injury after a tackle by Shea Pitcher. It was almost 30 minutes before the ambulance was on hand to take him away and the match could restart.

Fortunately, Morton later left the hospital under his own strength. St.

David's: D.Fox, C.Richardson, W.Smith, A.Steede, S.Pitcher, D.Hollis, G.Dill, E.Crockwell, K.Fray (P.White, 66 mins), J.Laws, E.Wolffe. Vasco: G.Sims, D.Livingston, P.Towlson, J.Cunha (C.Ainscough, 62 mins), E.Richardson, S.Morton, C.Lloyd, G.Ray, R.Mallory, L.Durham, D.Thomas (A.Bailey, 62 mins).

Referee: Peter Sousa.

Men of the match: Albert Steede (St.David's); Larance Durham (Vasco).