BAA will face a nervous last month of the season after this loss at PHC Stadium -- the biggest since losing to Vasco by the same score back in October -- left them anchored at the bottom of the standings.

After holding their own in the first half when Dennis Davis and Craig Critchlow created a couple of good scoring chances, BAA almost went behind just 52 seconds after the restart.

Fortunately, their goalkeeper Dwayne Adams brought off a magnificent save as he tipped Karl Roberts' scorcher onto the crossbar after the ball had been knocked down for the midfielder 20 yards from goal.

In the 55th minute the deadlock was broken when Dwight Basden poked the ball in from close range.

It wasn't a classic goal by any means but the next two certainly were as BAA were hammered into submission by a hungry Vasco team that virtually sealed its place in the First Division next season.

Goal number two came in the 68th minute when Irving Burgess picked up possession, twisted and turned on the edge of the box and then unleased a right foot shot that beat the diving Adams before hitting the far post and going in.

Substitute Larance Durham blasted well over the bar from the edge of the box a couple of minutes later but it did not matter for Vasco were never about to lose the comfortable lead which they added to 13 minutes from the end with a goal from a freekick that was as spectacular as Burgess'.

The chance was created when Troy Harvey fouled Basden on the edge of the penalty area. Having wasted a freekick from a similiar range minutes earlier, this time Earl Richardson was drafted into the set-piece and his left-footed shot beat the defensive wall before going inside Adams' left-hand post.

Still three points adrift of eighth-placed St. George's, BAA now need to win at least two of their last three matches against PHC, Dandy Town and Boulevard to have any chance of avoiding a quick return to the Second Division.

Vasco: K.Tucker; E.Richardson, D.Livingston, P.Towlson, D.Stapley; K.Jennings, M.Ray, K.Roberts; S.Gibbons (L.Durham 62min), D.Basden (K.Dill 80min), I.Burgess.

BAA: D.Adams; B.Benevides, T.Walker, N.Correia (A.Thompson 62min), W.DeSilva; M.DeMoura, T.Harvey, M.Martin; C.Critchlow, T.Smith, D.Davis.

Referee: Rex Osborne.

Men of match: Irving Burgess (Vasco), Troy Harvey (BAA).

Second Division champions Southampton Rangers dropped their first league point of the season when they were held to a scoreless draw by a Social Club side that considered itself unlucky not to steal both points at PHC Stadium after some good opportunities late in the match.

Rangers had won their first 13 matches to seal a quick return to the First Division. Social Club are one of the teams hoping to join them.