An 11th-minute goal by poacher supreme Irving Burgess sent North Village crashing to yet another home defeat yesterday and virtually out of championship contention.

After this performance at Bernard Park, Village's focus for the rest of the season may be on staying out of the relegation zone. The Red Devils are still ahead of Vasco in the standings but the difference in their play showed they are heading in opposite directions.

This was not exactly a work of art from Vasco. In fact, it was one of their weakest outings in recent months. Yet they could still have run away with a three or four-goal win had schemer Corey Hill shown the initiative to involve his team-mates at critical moments.

Village's chances were few and far between, so it was notable that their best was wasted inside the first few minutes when Nakia Smith beautifully made room for himself but shot wide from close on the right.

Hill headed over in the seventh minute and Vasco scored with their next foray, Burgess redirecting the ball past a helpless Carlyle Crockwell after Derek Stapley had volleyed forward.

Village lost centre-half Clifford Roberts with a neck injury in the 25th minute after a clash with Dwight Basden.

Roberts was taken to hospital for x-rays after which a spokeswoman said last night his condition was "stable''. His injuries were being evaluated before a decision taken on whether to release him.

Vasco had the better of a mediocre first half in which Village's frustration grew.

Such were their limitations that off-target headers from Jamal Smith and Dennis Robinson were the closest Timmy Figureido came to being tested.

At the other end, Hill shot wide when well placed and Irving Romaine made a saving tackle on the same player after he was released by Stapley.

Village came into the game more in the second half but found the Vasco defence and Figureido to be tough customers.

Nakia Smith showed some of his unquestionable talent when he cut in and hit a blistering drive from the right, which Figureido palmed over.

Figureido would play a key role as the half grew older, his team-mates embracing a one-goal lead with the satisfaction of a well-fed lion.

Hill's first show of selfishness came in the 74th minute when he waltzed past Romaine and shot to Crockwell's near post with two players waiting for a simple tap-in.

Seconds later Mark Ray was just off target with a rasping drive from 25 yards.

After a few minutes to catch his breath, Hill again wreaked havoc on the right flank, this time turning first-half substitute Arthur Simons inside and out before bringing another near-post save from Crockwell.

And again there were at least two Vasco players whose cries went unanswered.

Kentoine Jennings, who was a giant in midfield for Vasco in his first match at Bernard Park since leaving Village, did well to get in a back post header in the 70th minute, but Crockwell was equal to the task, plucking it from just under the bar.

Crockwell's judgement nearly cost Village a goal in the 79th minute when he came for but failed to reach a Sinclair Gibbons corner. Donovan Livingston, however, could not keep his header down and the Red Devils' slim hopes of salvaging a point were dashed.

Village's inability to put together meaningful attacks and Figureido's alertness left little hope of an equaliser.

The Under-23 team's number two 'keeper did well to turn over a Kevin Grant cross shot in the 86th minute after a sweeping move and then handled cleanly a cross at the near post from the same player.

Figureido's best save came minutes into stoppage time when he just got a hand up to tip a Romaine header over.

Vasco were just good enough to deserve both points while Village, clearly frustrated at the end, could be in for a rough month of March if they do not sort out their house... and soon.

North Village: C.Crockwell; D.Bell, C.Roberts (A.Simons, 25 mins), I.Romaine, K.Grant; S.Dill, M.Hansey, N.Smith; J.Smith (D.Rogers, 76 mins), D.Robinson, E.Jennings.

Vasco: T.Figureido; S.Gibbons, D.Livingston, P.Towlson, D.Stapley; M.Ray, K.Jennings, K.Roberts; C.Hill, D.Basden (W.Burgess, 89 mins), I.Burgess.

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.

Men of the match: Carlyle Crockwell (North Village); Timmy Figureido (Vasco).