Devonshire Cougars blew a two-goal lead last night at Devonshire Rec. as Vasco snatched the victory that keeps the title race alive.

However, they hardly looked like a championship team as Cougars surprised them with two goals in the first 17 minutes.

But just as quickly, Vasco were back in the game with goals in the 20th and 25th minutes before Steven Arorash snatched victory with the third six minutes into the second half.

Vasco then had to absorb a sustained period of pressure as Cougars tried to snatch a point.

Failure to do so means that the title race, which could have been sealed with a Devonshire Colts win and Vasco loss, will now go on for at least another week. Colts lead by two points but with a game in hand.

This match was only six minutes old when former Cougars defender Shawn Smith broke the deadlock with an own goal, deflecting the ball past goalkeeper Timmy Figureido at the near post as he tried to clear Mark Smith's cross from the left side.

Then after Franklyn Simmons put a shot side after Arorash had threaded a ball through the Cougars defence, the home side made them pay with a second goal in the 17th minute. Wali Salaam's curling corner from the left hit the near post and defender Wendell Smith drove home the rebound with a left foot shot.

That goal lifted Vasco and they responded with two quick goals of their own as the half finished at 2-2. Their first came in the 20th minute when Paul Towlson scored with a free header to a Sammy Swan corner on the left.

Five minutes later Swan took a cross from Arorash, dribbled inside the box and then slotted the ball home after rounding the advancing Tori Henry.

Schoolboy Mark Smith went close for Cougars with chances on either side of the half before Vasco capitalised again on some slack Cougars defending to score their winner in the 51st minute through Arorash from close range.

Right from the kick-off Salaam went close with a shot just past the far post.

Then the midfield tested Figureido with a long range freekick that was headed into the roof of the net before the 'keeper tipped the ball over the bar.

Cougars started to make a late surge but could not find the net as Philip Clarke broke through before shooting wide of the post from inside the box and moments later put his effort just past that same post as getting past two defenders inside the box.

Cougars: T.Henry; G.Georges, W.Swan (J.Hewey 90min), K.Swan, M.Dill, S.Coddington, G.Butterfield (P.Mallory 74min), W.Salaam, S.Caisey (R.Swan 62min), M.Smith, P.Clarke.

Vasco: T.Figureido; R.Marques, P.Towlson, S.Smith, E.Richardson, D.Stapley, D.Barbosa, S.Arorash, S.Swan, D.Livingston, F.Simmons (T.Dickinson 41min).

Referee: Esten Curtis Men of match: Wali Salaam (Cougars), Steven Arorash (Vasco).

Paget 4 BAA 2 Paget scored four times in the second half to clinch a come-from-behind win over BAA in the Second Division opener.

Meshach Wade gave BAA the lead with a 43rd minute penalty but two goals by Terrence Christopher led the Paget fightback.

Troy Burgess and substitute Dale Russell also scored for Paget while Tito Smith netted BAA's second goal.