They say that revenge is sweet.

Yesterday at Wellington Oval, Vasco `repaid' St. George's Colts for inflicting their first defeat this season and also knocked them out of Dudley Eve Trophy contention in clinical fashion.

Four Vasco goals in the last 15 minutes made for somewhat a flattering final scoreline, but the victory was nonetheless deserved and Vasco go into the mid-term break with a one-point lead over North Village.

With Village defeating Dandy Town 1-0 in the day's other significant match-up, St. George's needed but to repeat their 2-1 win over Vasco in the first round of the Friendship Trophy last month.

The unlikelihood of their task hit home almost immediately as Vasco were two goals up through an Earl Richardson penalty and a Shawn Smith strike inside a quarter-hour.

Ricky Hill pulled one back for Colts just before the half to fleetingly make a match of it but Dwight Basden struck twice, former St. George's player Sinclair Gibbons the fifth -- to signal the ultimate indignation -- and Richardson closed it out.

St. George's made the first positive movement in the first minute when Gregg Foggo volleyed well over after Leroy Robinson took advantage of Richardson's indecision and crossed.

A minute and a half later, Richardson was lining up a penalty kick, earned by Basden who was bundled over in the area.

Goalkeeper Troy Hall was frozen by the defender's deadly accuracy and Vasco were given the dream start.

The visitors welcomed the return of suspended Corey Hill and Timmy Figureido to their line-up and on 13 minutes, the former set up goal number two.

A thoughtful pass forward from Shawn Smith picked out Hill one on one against right-back Darren Walker.

Walker appeared to get the better of the forward but took too long on the ball and Hill did just enough to nip a foot in behind him and centre.

Smith by now had continued an unchecked run from deep and gave Hall no chance from point blank range.

St. George's had no right being two goals down so early but they were quite fortunate Vasco's shooting boots were not on later.

The next clear chance fell to Basden in the 31st minute after Hall dropped a Voorhees Astwood cross. But the forward fluffed his attempt and Dean Bailey cleared.

As a result of their first constructive surge since early on, St. George's scored in the 36th minute.

A good Bailey cross from the left forced Richardson into a desperate headed clearance from Robinson. And from Foggo's right-wing corner, Figureido was unsettled and Hill eventually forced the ball over the line.

Almost from the kick-off, Vasco went close with Basden shooting narrowly wide after he was set up by Gibbons.

Franklyn Simmons then headed wide after Basden's hustle created uncertainty in the home defence.

St. George's began the second half with considerably more spirit. There was a wind advantage, but their general standard of play lifted, so much so that they turned the match into a wide-open affair.

Unfortunately for them, Vasco were the better equipped team to exploit such open spaces.

Shortly after Quinton Francis ended a promising St. George's move with a shot that went over, Franklyn Simmons met the same result on the end of a good Gibbons cross.

Then, twice, it took good Vasco defending to keep Ricky Hill at bay. First Derek Stapley stuck a boot in when it appeared the striker was put through by Francis, then Shawn Smith made the saving tackle as Hill looked to get on the end of a Jerry Laws chest pass in a dangerous position.

Foggo's driven corners caused a bit of concern and in the 65th minute Hill rose well but had the ball skim off the top of his head and go wide.

At the other end, St. George's survived a triple threat as Basden and substitute Steval Arorash had shots blocked before Karl Roberts headed over.

By now, St. George's coach Herbie Bascome had introduced himself for an ineffective Dwayne Richardson and raised hope after 70 minutes with a scorching left-foot drive from 25 yards that, although it was always going wide, added fuel to the belief that the east-enders would be in it for the duration.

But, five minutes later, their world collapsed all around them. Arorash slipped a pass on the right to Corey Hill who successfully took on Walker and slid the ball by Hall for Basden to tap into an empty net.

Basden notched his second two minutes later, given the time and space to control a Roberts cross and bury the ball to the right of Hall's flailing dive.

Soon after, the 'keeper produced some magic to deny Astwood's chip with a fingertip save, but one man does not a defence make.

And with the players in front of him all but having given up, Hall was a sitting duck.

Gibbons scored with the flukiest of goals in the 88th minute, an attempted cross coming off his left shin and fluttering over Hall and into the net.

Then, Richardson ended it with an exclamation point, hammering home the sixth after Hall saved from Basden, his defenders nonchalantly watching the proceedings.

St. George's may have had Dudley Eve Trophy hopes going in, but the reality of this result suggests that such lofty heights are a ways away.

Vasco, on the other hand, have a full head of steam going into Wednesday's first round.

St. George's: T.Hall; D.Bailey, D.Wright, Q.Francis, D.Walker; G.Foggo, C.Smith, D.Richardson (H.Bascome, 61 mins), L.Robinson; J.Laws, R.Hill.

Vasco: T.Figureido; E.Richardson, S.Smith, K.Jennings, D.Stapley; S.Gibbons, V.Astwood, K.Roberts (A.Wolffe, 86 mins), F.Simmons (S.Arorash, 50 mins); C.Hill (S.Burgess, 82 mins), D.Basden.

Men of the match: Ricky Hill (St. George's); Earl Richardson (Vasco).

Referee: Esten Curtis.

VASCO'S TWO-GOAL HEROES -- Earl Richardson (left) and Dwight Basden (right) both got on the scoresheet twice as Vasco ran out 6-1 winners over St.

George's.