and there is every confidence that a fourth will follow next weekend to complete the most successful season in the club's history.

Yesterday the league and Dudley Eve Trophy champions added the Friendship Trophy to their collection thanks to Walter Musson's winner after just 70 seconds at the National Stadium.

The chance was created by a good run down the right by Pernell Douglas and Musson completed the move with a right-foot shot from close range.

Despite the closeness of the scoreline, Town emerged deserved winners, controlling the match for long periods with some fluent passing and penetrating runs while Vasco relied more on the quick break to force their opponents on the defensive.

"All credit to Vasco, they had a game plan and stuck with it,'' said Town coach Mark Trott afterwards. "I want to congratulate my players, they showed they are made of championship material.

"It was a great team effort and it's going to be just as tough a game next week. The FA is the most prestigious cup around, so everybody wants to win it.'' A back-pass in the 15th minute provided Vasco with their best chance of the early stages. But Voorhees Astwood, who collected a first-time clearance from Cymande Davis, put a shot wide of the near post from a good position with the goalkeeper retreating.

Astwood, one of five former Town players in the Vasco starting team, was booked in the 21st minute for tripping Devarr Boyles, the first yellow card of the match.

Town had good opportunities late in the half to extend their lead. In the 34th minute, Carlos Smith evaded a tackle from behind by Colin Lloyd, as referee Esten Curtis allowed the advantage, and then raced towards the penalty area before hitting a weak left-foot shot that the diving Tucker kept out at the far post.

In the last minute of the half, Town almost scored a goal identical to the first. The same two players were involved, with Douglas doing the work down the right, but Musson could not get enough of his left boot onto the ball to beat Tucker from inside the six-yard area.

The action stayed at the southern goal early in the second half as Ricky Mallory had a volley saved by Davis at the near post after just 90 seconds.

Vasco held territorial advantage for about five minutes without seriously threatening Davis and before long Town were back to their attacking ways as Musson cut in from the right and drove a left-foot effort well over.

Two minutes later Town were at it again, this time after Earl Richardson dispossessed Carlos Smith and then gave the ball straight to Cann who cut in and unleashed a shot that went Tucker saved.

In the 62nd minute, Cann almost made amends when he took a pass back from Musson on the left, got to the by-line and then watched as his low cross went untouched across goal.

Irving Burgess, with his speed, caused problems to the Town defence, with an effort in the 70th minute being blocked for a corner.

Then, while the Vasco defence stood watching, Boyles found himself with acres of space and duly obliged with a shot from 25 yards that smashed against the crossbar with 'keeper Tucker flat-footed and watching.

Substitutions came after that, with Darren Simons replacing the tiring Musson in the 73rd minute in a bid to add more thrust to the Town attack, while Vasco sought to boost their own front line by bringing on Albert Wolffe for Carl Ainscough three minutes later.

Wolffe's biggest impact was a booking for a foul on Boyles in the 85th minute.

Vasco offered late resistance with Richardson blasting a long-range effort over the bar.

"We did a lot better against them than we did in the two previous games,'' said Vasco coach John Rebello in reference to the 3-0 and 4-0 losses to Town in the league.

"We came up with a game plan, but we were kind of sleeping during the first five minutes and Dandy Town got on top of us and scored that goal. By the time we got into our rhythm we were unable to pull it back.

"Overall, I thought our guys had a great game and played with a lot of heart.

It is a big field, a hot day and I was proud of every one of them. There were no losers today.'' Town's win gives them a psychological edge going into Sunday's FA Cup final against the same team.

The aim, according to captain Lloyd Christopher, is to win the triple crown as it used to be years ago (League, FA Cup and Friendship Trophy), a feat last accomplished in 1978 by North Village.

"It's only been the elite teams that have been triple crown champions, so we want to go down in history as winning the triple crown as well,'' said Christopher.

"The strength is our bench as Walter's been missing since the first Dudley Eve, and Pernell as well, both with ankle injuries. We've been playing consistently all season with the only patch being the two league games against North Village and St. George's (in December).

"We knew they (Vasco) were going to try to catch us on the counter-attack, with the speed of Ricky and Irving.'' Dandy Town: C.Davis; L.Christopher, W.Rudo, W.Campbell, T.Durham; P.Douglas (L.Furbert, 82 mins), D.Boyles, K.Martin, P.Cann, W.Musson (D.Simons, 73 mins), C.Smith.

Vasco: K.Tucker, C.Lloyd, E.Richardson, D.Livingston, P.Towlson; L.Durham, C.Ainscough (A.Wolffe, 76 mins), K.Roberts, V.Astwood (G.Ray 82in), R.Mallory, I.Burgess.

Referee: Esten Curtis.

Men of the match: Devarr Boyles (Dandy Town); Paul Towlson (Vasco).

CELEBRATION TIME -- Walter Musson races off to celebrate his match-winner as a host of team-mates, including provider Pernell Douglas, left, and Paul Cann, right, try to catch him.

UNLIKELY HERO -- Goal-scorer Robert Pacheco, right, celebrates with Paul Franco after the final whistle sounds in BAA's shock win over Devonshire Cougars yesterday.