Under-23 squad member Meshach Wade made a triumphant return to local soccer last night, aiding BAA to victory over Devonshire Colts and moving the club out of the First Division cellar.

Wade scored what proved to be the winning goal, with a header off a Tito Smith corner in the game's dying stages.

In fact two members of the much publicised `Miami Seven' group that pleaded no contest to drug charges took the pitch at BAA for their first matches in more than two months, as Keishon Smith also appeared as a second half substitute for Colts.

It was rumoured in one of the Island's weekly newspapers that players had threatened to boycott matches if the Miami group had not been allowed to play.

This became a moot point as Wade and Smith each were allowed to perform, although it was not known whether this meant that the Bermuda Football Association (BFA) had decided not to impose the provisional seven year bans from domestic soccer on the group.

Wade, slightly out of shape, surprisingly showed little rust after a 60-plus day lay-off while awaiting trial overseas.

He easily stood head and shoulders above the rest as he marshalled the Green Knights' defence, constantly keeping the Colts attack at bay.

And it was only fitting that in the 85th minute he would step up to settle the result for his side, rising amongst a crowd in the penalty area to nod the ball home past Colts goalkeeper Randy Darrell.

Earlier the visitors had controlled the first half, using a neat passing game, building from the back line through the midfield, but often had things bog down in attack.

BAA, meanwhile, displayed their usual grit and determination, which made up for what they lacked in the skill department.

With Wade and Under-23 captain and goalkeeper Dwayne Adams solid at the back Colts toiled without reward.

Ultimately the home side reaped the fruit of their work ethic, as Wade produced the magic at the end.

The win moved BAA from 10th to eighth in the standings with 11 points to their credit, while Colts' relegation worries intensified as they dropped from eighth to ninth, staying on 10 points.

Devonshire Cougars, who face Dandy Town tomorrow are now on the bottom, having just 10 points from 12 matches.

BAA: D.Adams; B.Benevides, W.DeSilva (Clevie Critchlow 70 mins), M.Wade, N.Correia; T.Harvey, Craig Critchlow, M.DeMoura, M.Martin; A.Thompson, T.Smith.

Devonshire Colts: R.Darrell; A.Wilson, J.Bean, J.Samuels, Jermel Belboda; Jermaine Belboda (K.Smith 72 mins), L.Hypolite, K.Burchall; D.Ming, R.Jones (M.Lewis 57 mins), E.Weldon.

Referee: Frank Drayton.

Men-of-the-match: Meshach Wade (BAA), Jahmal Samuels (Devonshire Colts).

In Women's League action BAA Telecom were surprisingly held from getting maximum points, as they drew 1-1 with Rude Girls in the curtain raiser.