Vasco 3 Dandy Town 0 As if playing together for the first time, Vasco's players spent the first half getting to know each other at White Hill Field before a second half blitz kept their hopes alive in the Dudley Eve Trophy.

The win, which came as a result of three goals in 25 minutes -- two from Dwight Basden and the other from Corey Hill -- means that the defending champions must now meet PHC on Boxing Day to decide Devonshire Colts' opponents for the two-leg final which starts next weekend.

In a match of such importance there was little to shout about in the first half as both teams struggled to string passes together, even though the surface was drier and firmer than it had been for the opening game. Two of the best chances in an otherwise uneventful first half fell to Town close to the break. First Carlos Smith's downward header at the far post was saved easily by Timmy Figureido. Then Seyoum Tuzo had the best opportunity to break the deadlock in the 39th minute when a pass from Scott Morton found him at the far post but he wasted the effort by shooting well wide.

When Lionel Furbert also shot wide of the near post for Town two minutes into the second half after Tuzo knocked a cross back into the middle and Figureido had to hurry off his line to take the ball off the feet of Michael Wells, it appeared Vasco were having trouble keeping their composure.

But in the absence of top scorer Darron Simons, Town were lacking up front.

And gradually Vasco began to sort out their early problems, as full back Earl Richardson and Voorhees Astwood -- two former Town players -- started to click on the left side.

A free header from Kentoine Jennings to a Richardson free kick in the 52nd minute was put wide. Then a move started by Arorash, when he fed Corey Hill on the flank, resulted in the midfielder getting on the end of the cross back into the middle and having his shot deflected for a corner.

A minute later Vasco took a deserved lead when a move down the flank by Richardson saw him cut the ball back into the middle for Basden to score with a low shot into the far corner.

Hill missed a good chance to make it 2-0 eight minutes later. A high ball into the box was knocked down but he poked his shot wide from a good position.

Vasco were doing all the attacking now as the rhythm returned to their game and in the 72nd minute they doubled their lead when Basden turned and shot and Hill followed up on the save by goalkeeper Cymande Davis to finish off the move.

Town made three quick substitutions in a bid to boost their game, bringing on Jahmiko Marshall for Morton in the 68th minute, Lamon Simmons for Walter Musson in the 73rd and Chris Anderson for Wells in the 79th. But it was Vasco who continued to look the better team, with Astwood's return to midfield clearly giving them the edge in that department.

Vasco were able to relax on a 2-0 lead late in the game and Basden was set to be replaced in the closing stages when he netted the third after 83 minutes.

This time Richardson drove in a shot and Basden had the simple task of completing the move at the far post with a casual tap-in with his left foot as the Town defenders stood looking at each other.

The defending champions almost added a fourth in the final minute but Davis made a good save to a curling free kick from Hill from the edge of the box.

Vasco: T.Figureido; D.Stapley, K.Jennings, P.Towlson, E.Richardson, S.Arorash, S.Smith, V.Astwood, F.Simmons (T.Caisey 73 mins), C.Hill, D.Basden (A.DaCosta 83 mins).

Dandy Town: C.Davis, L.Furbert, P.Douglas, T.Lewis, M.Lowe, R.Tucker, S.Tuzo, S.Morton (J.Marshall 68 mins), M.Wells (C.Anderson 79 mins), W.Musson (L.Simmons 73 mins), C.Smith.

Referee: Lyndon Raynor Men of match: Earl Richardson (PHC), Lionel Furbert (Town)