A double strike by Meshach Wade kept Vasco on course for their second successive Coca Cola First Division title in this top-of-the-table clash at St. John's Field yesterday.

Just a point separated third-placed Town and first-placed Vasco before kick-off, but Wade's efforts put a four-point cushion between the champions and one of their most dangerous challengers.

Victory was all the sweeter for Vasco after their flop in the Dudley Eve Trophy over the holiday period, which included a defeat against Town.

Wade scored a goal in each half as Vasco seemed to be cruising to a comfortable win, but Town fought their way back into the game with a controversial penalty converted by Dano Outerbridge.

Vasco's protests against the penalty decision led to a red card for Tafari Outerbridge, but the ten men survived the last quarter with some desperate defending.

Wade's first goal came just seven minutes into the game. A slick one-two between Wade and Otis Steede sliced open the heart of the Town defence and left the midfielder in the clear.

Wade blasted his shot confidently into the bottom left-hand corner, giving Town goalkeeper Antoine Lightbourne, standing in for Jason Smith who had been called up for military service, no chance.

By that time Town could easily have been ahead themselves. A brilliantly executed back-heel by Reggie Tucker gave Wolde Place a shooting chance inside the Vasco penalty area in only the second minute.

But Kentoine Jennings, the rock on which so many Town attacks foundered, slid across to smother Place's shot with a sliding challenge timed to perfection.

Town enjoyed as much possession as Vasco in the first half, but the league leaders carved out the better chances.

Just four minutes after Wade's opening, slack marking by Town let in Dwight Basden, but the striker chose to shoot early and the ball sailed high over the crossbar.

Twice before the interval, Basden had headers cleared off the line, both from corners. First Jahmiko Marshall nodded his 16th-minute effort away and the ensuing scramble finished with a shot from Wade flying inches wide of the post. And Troy Lewis chested Basden's second header away from underneath his own crossbar a minute before half-time.

Town had their chances too and energetic midfielder Devon Binns was unlucky to see his 25-yard free-kick curl just the wrong side of the left-hand post in the 19th minute.

Vasco goalkeeper Timmy Figureido was struggling again after 28 minutes when Lionel Furbert broke down the right wing for Town and sent over a high cross which deceived Figureido and hit the crossbar.

Moments later Lewis set Tucker free down the right and his low cross just evaded the boot of striker Darron Simons, running in at the near post.

Wade's excellent form continued after the break and he went close to doubling Vasco's lead eleven minutes into the second half, when he cut inside from the left and shot fiercely into the side-netting.

But in the 62nd minute, Wade's and Vasco's second goal arrived. Basden was up-ended by Dano Outerbridge and Wade whipped the resulting free kick into the bottom left-hand corner of the net. Wade was immediately substituted, presumably to rest him, and replaced by Diallo Sharrieff.

Town almost found an instant riposte when Simons bravely beat Figureido to a loose ball in the penalty area, but saw his left foot effort drift wide. The incident left both players needing treatment before they were able to resume.

The whole complexion of the game changed in the 68th minute after Vasco defender Wayne Augustus handled at the edge of his penalty area. Referee Anthony Mouchette pointed unerringly to the spot as Vasco players surrounded him to protest the offence had taken place outside the box.

Dano Outerbridge remained cool enough to convert the spot-kick, albeit off the left-hand post, but the drama continued before the game restarted.

Mouchette consulted with one of his assistants before striding up to Tafari Outerbridge and showing him the red card for dissent.

Rejuvenated Town piled forward in numbers, but Furbert's sizzling 30-yarder just past the upright was the closest they came to an equaliser.

Vasco, with Kentoine Jennings the kingpin in defence, refused to let their lead, or their unbeaten league record, slip.

Town: A.Lightbourne, J.Marshall, D.Outerbridge, L.Furbert, D.Bailey, K.Martin (H.Wolfe 58 mins), D.Binns, W.Place (S.Tuzo 58 mins), T.Lewis (M.Smith 70 mins), D.Simons, R.Tucker.

Vasco: T.Figureido, Kent.Jennings, C.Roberts, M.Wade (D.Sharrieff 63 mins), W.Augustus, T.Outerbridge, O.Steede, Kei.Jennings, S.Gibbons, A.Russell, D.Basden.

Referee: Anthony Mouchette.

Men of the match: Devon Binns (Town); Kentoine Jennings (Vasco).