Soccer bad boy Meshach Wade came good to gun down FA Cup holders Boulevard at PHC Stadium yesterday.

The national team's former skipper, who is awaiting sentence after going AWOL from Regimental duties, struck twice with a marksman's precision as Vasco denied their main rivals for the league championship a tilt at a third successive victory in the Island's premier cup competition.

His goals, in the 67th and 90th minutes, also made it a happier outcome for him than when the sides met in the Martonmere Cup final earlier this season.

On that occasion, Wade got his marching orders for disputing a penalty as Boulevard went on to win 3-2.

That defeat was Vasco's last of the current season -- they have now gone unbeaten for 18 games. However, Boulevard were at least their equals until midway through the second half of yesterday's untidy game in which the teams, meeting for a fifth time this campaign, seemed to cancel each other out for long periods.

In a particularly poor first period, moves did not so much break down as never get going. And it wasn't until late in the first half that meaningful opportunities came either side's way -- and then we had two in as many minutes.

First, Sammy Swan, just three yards out, headed straight into the well-positioned Andre Hendrickson's arms after Ascento Russell had nodded a cross back across goal to him.

Then, at the other end, the unflappable Timmy Figuerido denied Kenneth Hill with a fingertip save after he looked certain to score following good work by Dwight Warren and Leonard Hypolite.

Hypolite, whose strong runs from midfield looked likeliest to inflict damage on Vasco, went close himself seven minutes after the break.

Hill, with his back to goal, laid the ball back into his path and although Hypolite's left foot shot from an acute angle was well struck it careered a yard wide of Figuerido's right hand post.

Then Basden had an opportunity to give Vasco the lead from Swan's precise knock down but his left foot volley was blocked.

Just when stalemate seemed inevitable, Vasco struck twice within three minutes. Ironically, the goals game only moments after Boulevard coach Herbie Bascome had thrown on Stevie Wade to spruce up an attack rendered ineffective by the experienced Derek Stapley's fine man-to-man marking job on Dwight Warren.

Boulevard failed to adequately clear their lines and the ball fell to Wade on the edge of the box. He bulleted a low shot goalwards which grazed Dean Boyles' leg before nestling in the bottom corner.

Wade had a hand in the second three minutes later. He rose to head Sinclair Gibbons' corner but his off-target effort flew straight back out to him on the right. Gibbons scuffed it into the middle where it landed fortunately for Kentoine Jennings to shoot home.

Clay Smith, who replaced Sammy Swan with 15 minutes remaining, missed a great chance to make it three a minute from time, heading Russell's cross over an open goal, but Wade made no mistake seconds later. He took the ball down 12 yards out in a spacious Boulevard penalty area and his left foot shot had too much firepower for Hendrickson.

Vasco T.Figuerido, K.Jennings, D.Stapley, P.Towlson, S.Gibbons, O.Steede, V.Astwood, M.Wade, S.Swan (C.Smith 75 mins), D.Basden (D.Livingston 84 mins), A.Russell Boulevard A.Hendrickson, L.Stevens, D.Charles, D.Boyles, A.Caisey, L.Hypolite, N.Robinson, V.Eve (R.Bascome 75 mins), K.Hill, D.Warren, J.Warren (S.Wade 65 mins) Referee Richard Knight Men of the match Meshach Wade (Vasco); Leonard Hypolite (Boulevard)