Aljame Zuill's first-half hat-trick proved the inspiration in a wild one at Devonshire Recreation Club last night, which ensured Devonshire Colts will play top-flight soccer next season.

Colts moved into fifth place past Vasco on 26 points and cannot now be caught by Boulevard who presently occupy the third and final relegation spot.

But for long periods in a chilly and windy setting, there was little to distinguish these clubs from the strugglers.

From the start when Colts' Marvin Belboda nearly embarrassed the casual Wolves goalkeeper, Hewvonnie Brown, from the centre circle you could sense this match-up would skip sublime and head straight for the absurd.

Not to be left out, Troy Hall in the Colts goal paid for his profligacy when he provided Nathan Webb with a simple tap-in after spilling a tamely-hit Khari Sharrieff free kick on four minutes.

Wolves would twice go close through Cory Smith and Jared Peniston before Colts hit them with a double strike that exposed a crude defence.

Zuill barely had time to rue his 18th-minute miss from a Belboda pass when seconds later he was presented with the chance to coolly lob Brown -- and he gratefully accepted.

Five minutes later, the league's leading scorer showed exactly why with a clinical finish. Wayne Henry played Zuill in on the left and the lanky forward did well to fend off Smith before lashing a drive past Brown's left hand.

Sharrieff's commanding presence on the ball and the driving influence of Anthony Thomas in midfield made certain Wolves would always have a say going forward.

And after Webb had the first of his two bad misses on the night and Georon Trott headed a Sharrieff header off the line, it was no surprise when they drew level in the 37th minute.

Carlos Lopes, looking out of place at left-back most of the night, sauntered upfield and made Colts pay for a half-cleared ball with a searing strike from the edge of the area.

But Wolves could simply not defend, and Zuill's hat-trick was complete in Colts' next move forward a minute later.

Belboda, however predictable, proved a menace on the right with his dribbling skill and his cross somehow found its way to an unmarked Zuill for his 10th league goal and 21st overall.

Right at the end of the half, Webb headed over the top from a good position then Brown at the other end made a desperate save from a sumptuous Zuill half-volley from 30 yards -- the message being that more goals were on the way.

And in took 12 minutes into the new period for Wolves to force their second equaliser, this time after Colts were shockingly blown down for a back pass to Hall deep in their penalty area.

The 10 men-on-the-line theory was literally full of holes as Thomas's drive went in virtually untouched.

Reprieve in hand, Wolves still could not make the most of it as Colts claimed the winner only five minutes later, Belboda's mazy run accounting for three `defenders' and the 'keeper before Clevon Hill turned in the pass.

As was the case when Wolves equalised, striker Sharrieff was still off the field being treated for a hamstring pull, bringing jeers in the direction of coach Dennis Brown.

Rashid Ebbin ultimately got on and it was Wolves who came closest to finding the net again and it was a miss which would haunt Webb were they closer to the relegation zone.

The move inspired by Thomas again, Webb engaged in lovely inter-play before his captain provided the telling pass to eliminate the 'keeper.

There was no excusing a lack of control that resulted in the first touch ballooning in the direction of Hall who could hardly believe his luck.

Referee Anthony Mouchette correctly allowed six minutes of stoppage time and the plot ended in absurdity just as it began when the final whistle went just as Belboda was driving in what most thought was Colts' sixth.

Wolves: H.Brown; C.Lopes, L.Simmons, J.Warren, C.Smith; K.Smith, A.Thomas, J.Douglas; J.Peniston, K.Sharrieff (R.Ebbin, 65 mins), N.Webb (F.Brewster, 84 mins).

Devonshire Colts: T.Hall; J.Belboda, S.Burgess, M.Hollis, J.Aberdeen (R.Saltus, 24 mins); W.Henry (R.Jones, 76 mins), J.Samuels, G.Trott; A.Zuill, M.Belboda, C.Hill.

Men of the match: Anthony Thomas (Wolves), Aljame Zuill (Colts).

Yellow cards: Douglas (W), Belboda (DC), Hollis (DC), Hill (DC).

Referee: Anthony Mouchette.

Chevonne Furbert scored a second-half hat-trick as Rude Girls blanked Wolves Girls 4-0 in the Women's League opener.

Furbert scored in the 54th, 58th and 72nd minutes after Ericka Russell had given them an 11th-minute lead.