A pair of spectacular goals in the final three minutes highlighted the opening game of the BFA's Martonmere Cup competition last night.

Ending a fast-paced, entertaining match at BAA Field, Meshach Wade nodded in Ottis Steede's cross in injury time to give Vasco an unlikely point in the Group Two round-robin.

This was the first action of the season for both clubs and while the timing was predictably off, the intensity wasn't. That was especially important for Vasco, who were arguably the league's most talented -- and most under-achieving -- club a year ago.

Last night, they took the wraps off another dazzling array of talent and, apart from the odd Rangers counter-attack, held a wide edge in play. But they sputtered horribly whenever they got near 'keeper Randy Darrell's box -- a fault that nearly came back to haunt them when Rohan Simons scored for the Rangers in the 87th minute.

On a move set up by Darrell's long goalkick, Simons was nearly 30 yards out when he glanced up and cranked a right-foot rocket into the top left corner, just over the outstretched arms of 'keeper Tim Figueiredo.

Darrell was the busier of the two 'keepers but after holding Rangers in the game for 90 minutes he had no answer for Wade's easy header, set up by Steede, who, given lots of space on the right flank, sailed a perfect ball over four defenders.

That was one of innumerable Vasco chances. Attacking early and often, they had only themselves to blame, particularly in the opening half when Wade, Ascento Russell, Dwight Basden, Sinclair Gibbons and Earl Richardson all walked away shaking their heads.

Richardson was especially jinxed. Granted a 42nd minute penalty kick when Oscar Riley was whistled for a tackle from behind, Richardson lofted the ball four feet over the cross bar. Basden did score in the 75th minute but it was wiped out because of off-side.

Vasco: T.Figueiredo, D.Stapley, E.Richardson, P.Towlson (C.Sharman, 53 mins), Kent.Jennings, M.Wade, S.Gibbons, O.Steede, D.Basden (C.Smith, 79 mins), S.Simmons, A.Russell (Keith Jennings, 69 mins).

Rangers: R.Darrell, J.Raynor, S.Simmon, R.Belboda, O.Riley, E.Pitt, C.Simmons, W.Burgess (S.Ming 62 mins), A.Wolfe (N.Grant, 75 mins), C.Darrell (D.Vickers, 81 mins), R.Simons.

Men of the match: Vasco -- O.Steede; Rangers -- R.Simons.