Vasco 1 Dandy Town 1 Vasco's perfect start to the new season came to a controversial end in this Coca Cola First Division clash at PHC Stadium yesterday.

Dwight Basden looked to have given the home side victory in the final minutes but referee Richard Knight ruled it out for offside.

This brought to a climax a frenetic last quarter of an hour, which started with Dandy Town substitute Marvin Lewis being sent off only minutes after entering the pitch.

Diallo Sharrieff then equalised Earl Richardson's second-half penalty before Town withstood a late siege that should have brought Vasco all three points.

On the face of it, a draw was a fair result as Town did enough in the first half to play Vasco out of the match.

But, once Vasco had managed to survive the first 45 minutes, it looked a sure deal that Town would be in for a searching examination from there on.

Vasco went ahead five minutes after the restart after Irving Burgess was brought down by Don Lewis. Richardson's spot-kick sent Cymande Davis in the Town goal the wrong way.

Vasco's 'keeper Timmy Figureido was involved in the next significant action as he advanced well to force Darron Simons wide, the striker having been put through by Pernell Douglas.

Still, for the most part, Figureido's opposite number Davis, and his defenders, were given the runaround.

Davis went at full stretch to turn away a Corey Hill cross as the Town defence was slow to react to a quick corner in the 60th minute.

Then, from the resultant corner Vasco thought they had won a penalty.

Davis' punch was poor and went straight to Kentoine Jennings 15 yards out.

Jennings' shot travelled through a maze of players and caught a hand. Referee Knight initially signalled for a penalty but overturned it after consulting his linesman.

Two minutes later, Davis had to be sharp to deny Karl Roberts a chance to get on the end of a Basden cross.

Richardson, who made his usual forays into opposition territory, went all the way in the 74th minute before shooting over an empty net from six yards after Burgess' return pass took the 'keeper out of the play.

For someone who specialises in dead-ball situations it was a nightmare miss.

But, alas, his blushes were spared as the linesman's flag was up for offside.

Town, having given everything in the first half, were looking ragged. Douglas did his utmost while co-captain Carlos Smith was exemplary with his hustling play.

But it was Vasco who had paced themselves better and it showed in their second-half domination.

The match took a turn for the worse late on as Lewis, who had replaced Paul Place in the 71st minute, was booked for a heinous tackle from behind after he was beaten by Richardson in the 75th.

The players had to be separated but Lewis, whose temperament has never been the feature of his game, would not let it go. Seconds later, Knight gave him an automatic red card for foul and abusive language away from the action.

On his way off the pitch, Lewis struck out at Richardson but missed, his actions drawing a crowd from both teams' benches and more than likely further probing from the BFA.

This unwanted affair only served to heat up the closing moments and Sharrieff gave Town the lift they so desperately needed with a fine strike in the 80th minute.

Sharrieff's initial free kick from 25 yards out was blocked and after the ball was knocked around for a while the big centre-half shook the roof of the net with a thunderous first-time shot from 20 yards.

Despite the equaliser, the edge still belonged to Vasco as Town were a man down with defender Lloyd Christopher hobbling and all three substitutes used.

Vasco's final surge looked to have won it, but the move which saw Burgess feed Basden in the centre to score was a carbon copy of the Burgess-to-Richardson miss 25 minutes earlier.

However, it must be said that the second offside call was far less convincing.

Town would have had only themselves to blame for defeat as they took it to Vasco from the start.

Simons completely missed his header from a Troy Lewis cross with Figureido exposed in the 10th minute then the 'keeper did well to collect a Smith cross at full length.

Douglas hit a rasping drive in the 26th minute that had Figureido scrambling at his near post and the hard-working midfielder missed Town's best chance after a dynamite move between Simons and Smith left him with just the 'keeper to beat.

The final Town chance of the half fell to Simons after a superb Smith pass while falling put him through on the left. Simons' left-foot shot curled inches wide of the right upright.

Vasco had limited opportunities early on as they struggled to find a rhythm but they were much better after the break and at the end nearly added to a string of four consecutive league and cup victories to start the season.

Vasco: T.Figureido; E.Richardson, K.Roberts, S.Smith, K.Jennings, D.Stapley; S.Gibbons (B.Kirkpatrick, 83 mins), S.Arorash (W.Burgess, 70 mins); C.Hill, D.Basden, I.Burgess.

Dandy Town: C.Davis; D.Lewis, D.Sharrieff, P.Place (M.Lewis, 71 mins), W.Rudo; P.Douglas, L.Christopher; N.Smith (M.Richardson, 81 mins), D.Simons, C.Smith, T.Lewis (K.Sharrieff, 65 mins).

Referee: Richard Knight.

Men of the match: Kentoine Jennings (Vasco); Pernell Douglas (Dandy Town).

UNDER CONTROL -- Vasco left-back Earl Richardson plans his next move watched by Dandy Town's Troy Lewis. Richardson put Vasco ahead from the penalty spot before Town equalised late in the game.