Vasco were confirmed as First Division champions for the third time in four seasons yesterday following this resounding victory over Devonshire Colts at White Hill Field.

But the mood in the Vasco camp upon receiving the trophy from BFA official Elroy Ratteray after the match was more subdued than their previous championship wins -- obviously reflecting the circumstances in which the title was won following the recently boycotted matches.

Yesterday Bermuda Football Association confirmed that Vasco had been awarded the points from their match with Boulevard on March 19 when Boulevard refused to play (see story below). That meant that the title was Vasco's yet again even before this match had started.

It was a contest that was never taken too seriously by either team -- who meet again in this weekend's Friendship final -- with Vasco seizing the early initiative with two goals in the first six minutes. After that they coasted while Colts, fielding a weakened team, also went through the motions before a small crowd.

Kentoine Jennings, playing as striker, set up the first goal when he challenged young Colts goalkeeper Keidric Smith for a high cross and Sinclair Gibbons volleyed in at the far post to open his account.

Less than a minute later Otis Steede doubled the lead with a low drive that slid through the youngster's hands.

Vasco's good start continued when Jennings scored a well taken goal, controlling a pass with his left and following up by slotting calmly past the 'keeper in the 38th minute.

Gibbons added his second goal four minutes after that with a far post volley into the roof of the net before Marvin Belboda pulled one back for Colts a minute before the break with a left-footed shot into the top corner.

Jennings looked like a seasoned striker when he scored his second goal of the match in the 48th minute to extend Vasco's lead to 5-1, just moments after Colts veteran Harrison Trott sidefooted straight at 'keeper Timmy Figureido.

Jennings missed the chance for a hat-trick when a shot went inches past the far post. Belboda also suffered a bad miss when Colts were awarded a penalty after second choice goalkeeper Stefan Duprey, coming on as full back, clumsily ran into Harrison Trott. Belboda had Timmy Figureido going the wrong way but his spot kick was wide.

Gibbons closed out his hat-trick in the 72nd minute with a shot into the far top corner to make it 6-1 and Meshach Wade hit the seventh seven minutes from the end to complete the romp.

Dev.Colts: K.Smith; J.Belboda, S.Burgess, J.Simmons, P.Augustus (K.Lawrence 51min), K.Smith, R.Douglas, H.Trott (G.Trott 88min), T.Smith (J.Laws 79min), A.Zuill, M.Belboda.

Vasco: T.Figureido; D.Stapley (W.Augustus 65min), C.Roberts, D.Sharrieff, E.Richardson (S.Dupres 65min), D.Robinson (C.Anderson 70min), O.Steede, T.Outerbridge, M.Wade, S.Gibbons, K.Jennings.

Referee: Anthony Mouchette.

Men of the match: Keishon Smith (Colts), Sinclair Gibbons (Vasco).