Vasco boosted their chances of a place in the Dudley Eve tournament over the Christmas holidays after beating a flat North Village side at Bernard Park yesterday.

The win lifted Vasco to third in the standings, ahead of defending Dudley Eve champions Village who face a must-win situation against Boulevard next weekend in order to qualify. Village are fourth but just a point ahead of Somerset and two in front of Dandy Town.

Village looked up for the challenge early on, but had to reorganise their defence after two injuries forced them into substitutions inside the first half hour. Left back Randy Spence limped off after just eight minutes with a recurring leg injury and Arthur Simons also went off with an injury after 23 minutes.

Simons collected a yellow card before he departed, for a foul he committed on the edge of the penalty area three minutes earlier. From the resulting free kick Kuma Smith's shot rose just inches over the bar. Youngster Zane Hendrickson in the Village goal was forced into an important save right on half-time when a 25-yard effort from Sinclair Gibbons looked headed for the roof of the net before Hendrickson turned it over the bar.

But the keeper will have to shoulder the blame for Vasco's opening goal two minutes into the second half when he dropped the ball from a curling cross from Keith Jennings, allowing Chris Anderson to head home from close range.

Jennings gifted Village their equaliser nine minutes later when he pulled back cousin Kevin Jennings as he streaked into the box on the left side. Tafari Outerbridge tucked his spot kick to 'keeper Timmy Figureido's right.

That goal served to lift Village as Sergio Goater raced past Jermaine Belboda and into the box only to trip when he appeared ready to shoot.

But Vasco made Village pay with a second goal in the 71st minute. Smith smashed his free kick into the Village wall and Irving Burgess rifled home the rebound from six yards.

Vasco were not about to let Village get back into the game again and Smith saved the best goal for last as the visitors made certain of victory with a third three minutes from time.

It came from another free kick on the edge of the box and Smith, showing he isn't just about power from dead-ball situations, curled the ball around the wall and inside the far bottom corner.

Village: Z.Hendrickson; M.Dill, Kent.Jennings, A.Simons (M.Hansey 23 mins), R.Spence (R.Edness 8 mins), Kev.Jennings, S.Goater, J.Thomas, E.Jennings, T.Outerbridge (C.Dill 80 mins), D.Warren.

Vasco: T.Figureido; D.Stapley, D.Sharrieff (A.Tyrerll 85 mins), C.Roberts, J.Belboda, K.Smith, Kei.Jennings (D.Basden 69 mins), K.Burchall, C.Anderson, S.Gibbons, I.Burgess.

Referee: Lyndon Raynor Men of the match: Kentoine Jennings (Village), Kuma Smith (Vasco).

Yellow cards: Chris Anderson (Vasco), Arthur Simons, Tafari Outerbridge, Kentoine Jennings (Village).