Vasco 2 Dev.Colts 1 (after extra-time) A year ago goalkeeper Troy Hall played a major role in Devonshire Colts' first league success in two decades.

Yesterday he committed a rare error that gifted Vasco the FA Cup, and with it local football's first Triple Crown in 20 years, as the 1997-98 season ended with a thrilling cup final at National Stadium.

Colts, with their recent problems, weren't given much of a chance of beating Vasco in the 43rd final. And after Vasco held a 1-0 lead after only five minutes the match appeared to be following expectations.

But things turned around in the second half as Colts first equalised and then should have taken the lead against a Vasco team that started to lose direction.

They found their way again late in the second half and in the first period of extra-time. And in the opening minutes of the second period they scored what turned out to be the winner through substitute Ascento Russell after Hall allowed a low shot from a Clay Smith free kick on the right corner of the penalty area to escape his clutches.

Russell, who had come on midway through the second half for Sammy Swan, was quick to pounce and seal the match.

"The goal we gave away was probably the difference in the game,'' acknowledged Colts' caretaker coach Quilton Joell.

Vasco had the resolve to come back after playing most of the second half on the defensive.

It was a game of two halves in regulation time as Vasco made it look so easy in the opening period after taking just five minutes to open the scoring.

The goal came from a square pass on the edge of the box by midfielder Kentoine Jennings to Voorhees Astwood who headed it down for full back Sinclair Gibbons. His first time volley dipped over Hall and into goal.

Colts had a few chances to equalise before the break with their best opportunity coming from a Quincy Aberdeen cross from the right which Keishon Smith missed at the near post late in the half.

Smith was treading very cautiously after being booked by referee Gary Cook after just 85 seconds for fouling Gibbons. Cook gave him a firm warning for talking back after being blown for a foul midway through the half.

Cook, in fact, had a busy afternoon as he needed treatment for a blow to the side of the face when he got in the path of a misdirected shot on goal by Astwood two minutes before the break. After treatment he was able to continue.

A new Colts team emerged from the dressing room for the second half and their early pressure was rewarded with a 51st minute equaliser. College student Aberdeen, brought back for the final, had noticeably raised his game and was instrumental in the move which ended when Keishon Smith was tripped in the box by Donovan Livingston.

Skipper Shannon Burgess planted his spot kick firmly to Timmy Figureido's right.

As the game hung in the balance the commitment from both teams was evident as Cook was kept busy with four bookings in a short period -- Derek Wright and Jermel Belboda for Colts and Voorhees Astwood and Derek Stapley for Vasco.

After a Vasco counter-attack in the 75th minute through Otis Steede resulted in Dwight Basden's shot being deflected for a corner, Colts broke through at the other end with their best chance to take the lead.

Aberdeen was again involved in the play as he created the opening on the left.

His low cross beat Figureido as it was squared back but both Keishon Smith and substitute Ellington Weldon, in their eagerness to get inside the six-yard box, were too far ahead of the play.

Vasco clinch Triple Crown From Page 21 In the final minute of regulation period Derek Wright headed off the line from a Vasco corner on the right which 'keeper Hall, his handling below par, dropped as he fell to the ground.

Vasco were back in charge in the first period of extra-time before Colts tried another rally in the second period after falling behind to what would turn out to be the winner.

Shannon Burgess was the final booking of the game after bringing down Basden as he raced for goal.

"Colts have given us a hard time for the last four or five seasons and we have always struggled to come away with a win,'' said Vasco coach John Rebello.

"They were missing `Beaver' (Mark Ray) but that was offset by us missing `Shack' (Meshach Wade). We came out with a game plan on who we were going to shut down and it was working until the first 10 minutes of the second half.'' Credit must go to Colts for the way in which they battled back to make it a memorable final against the favourites. Coach Joell believed he got them more focused after a flat first half.

"At the half I recharged them to their commitment to themselves, and commitment to the club in order to get the job done,'' said Joell.

"After we got our goal we still had pressure and I thought we had to get a second and then they would probably have broken up. We didn't get the early goal after the first one and they came back into the game.'' Vasco: T.Figureido; D.Stapley P.Towlson, D.Livingston, S.Gibbons (E.Richardson 63 mins), K.Jennings, O.Steede, V.Astwood, S.Swan (A.Russell 64 mins), C.Smith, D.Basden (T.Dickinson 115 mins).

Dev.Colts: T.Hall; Jermaine Belboda, S.Burgess, M.Hollis, Jermel Belboda; J.Samuels, K.Lawrence (E.Weldon 46 mins), D.Wright, T.Smith (S.Waldron 85 mins), Q.Aberdeen, K.Smith (R.Jones 105 mins).

Referee: Gary Cook.

Men of the match: Kentoine Jennings (Vasco), Shannon Burgess (Colts).