Vasco gained safe passage to the next round of the Shield competition with a 1-0 victory over Devonshire Cougars in the curtain raiser at PHC last night.

The match was a scrappy affair that threatened to get out of hand as tempers flared in the second half and referee Lawrence DeShields struggled to maintain control. In the end only a first half goal by Vasco defender Donovan Livingston separated the two sides.

Play seesawed early on as Vasco employed double-strikers with Tony Cabral and Mallory running hard at the Cougars' defence.

They were nearly handed a goal in the 11th minute when goalkeeper Fred Richardson misplayed a shot by Cabral and the ball fell to an onrushing Mallory whose shot was deflected for a corner.

Following up at the other, Donald Norford squandered an opportunity to send Cougars into the lead. A corner by Detmar Trott on the right was only partially cleared, falling to Norford near the penalty spot, however he skied a drive over the crossbar to the delight of 'keeper Gerald Sims.

There would be more anxious moments for Sims as a minute later as he was forced to punch clear a dangerous curling cross by Trott and then he escaped being blown for a penalty when it appeared he had fouled Devon Brangman inside the area.

The goal Vasco were looking for came from a freekick in the 34th minute when a floating cross from full-back Earl Richardson was headed home at the far post by Livingston.

Petty fouls littered the second half and it was surprising that DeShield awarded just two bookings. Derek Thomas in particular seemed to raise the ire in his opponents and became the target of much verbal abuse.

WINNER -- Livingston.