Village after the Bermuda Football Association confirmed yesterday that the 3-0 lead they held before the light failure at Devonshire Rec. last week would be allowed to stand as the final result.

The match was abandoned after 70 minutes because of light failure, and the awarding of the match to Vasco means that both they and St. George's only need to draw tonight at Somerset to clinch the first two semi-final places in the competition.

The Competitions Committee made their ruling on article two, which pertains to general rules for division competitions. "The Executive Committee or Leagues Committee acting on its behalf shall review all abandoned matches in cases where it is to the advantage of the competition and does no injustice to any team and shall be empowered to order the score at the time of the abandonment to be recorded as the result.'' Upon reviewing the referee's and field operator's report, the Competition's Committee reached the conclusion that the match was abandoned as a result of light failure at Devonshire Recreation Club.

Article 2 (2) stated: "The competition comprises four match dates, inclusive of the cup final, and a replay of the match would not be to the advantage of the competition.'' St. George's marked their Martonmere Cup debut with a 2-0 win over Somerset and can advance to the last four if they manage a draw against Boulevard in tonight's 7.00 opener.

The feature match at 9.00 sees Vasco taking on Dandy Town. Vasco also need just a draw to advance, and if both they and St. George's accomplish their task it would leave the four participating teams next Tuesday to battle for the two remaining semi-final places.

On the other hand, losses for both St. George's and Vasco tonight would leave all four semi-final places to be determined by the outcome of the last round of matches next week at PHC Stadium when Boulevard play Somerset and Dandy Town take on North Village.

No team has come close to beating Vasco in their three matches so far, as they have scored eight goals and conceded just one. However, if there is one team that can do it it is Dandy Town who will be looking for at least a point to take into their final group match against North Village, knowing that a draw from that would take them into the last four.

On Sunday, Town had to come from behind to beat St. George's, but with just as much -- if not more -- scoring power in their team as Vasco, this promises to be the first big match of the season. Last season Darron Simons and Carlos Smith of Town combined for 30 goals while Vasco's trio of Irving Burgess, Dwight Basden and Corey Hill scored 20 goals between them.

As they showed on Sunday when defender Kentoine Jennings opened his season account, Vasco have more than their front men capable of finding the net, though their biggest concern now will be having Jennings fit enough to play.

He limped off with a leg injury late in Sunday's match against Southampton Rangers.

St. George's can expect a tougher match from Boulevard than what they got from the Trojans last week, though there has been little in Boulevard's play so far to suggest they will be a serious threat in this competition. Much work is still to be done and their back four has already been changed in the two matches so far, with Dean Boyles coming in to partner Leroy Stevens in the middle of the defence while Dwayne Bean was dropped after one match at right-back. Leonard Hypolite filled that position on his debut on Sunday.

St. George's, brought back to earth by Town on Sunday, will again rely on Clay Smith and Ricky Hill to lead their chase for goals, with Hill having a good start to the season with two of the team's three goals so far.

Kyle Lightbourne netted his third goal of the season on Saturday as Walsall drew 1-1 with Peterborough. Lightbourne opened the scoring in the 72nd minute but Peterborough earned a point seven minutes later.