St. David's 4, Vasco 2 St. David's finally got off the mark in the First Division with a home victory over struggling Vasco.

After eight losses in nine outings, St. David's started the new year in enterprising fashion with James Pace grabbing a hat-trick while the ever-pesky Lionel Cann scored the other. Replying for Vasco were Irving Burgess and Albert Wolffe.

Before the start of the match, St. David's coach Garrett (Punchy) Dill intimated that Vasco would be in for a surprise, as they now had the services of several players who were out due to injuries earlier in the season. His prediction would prove true when St. David's opened the scoring after only four minutes.

Pace received a pass from O.J. Minors on the wing and managed to somehow squeeze his shot between goalkeeper Gerald Sims and the upright.

Vasco were experiencing enormous difficulty finishing off plays as they fell victim to poor shooting and the timely goalkeeping heroics of young Sidney Minors.

Vasco exploited the St. David's defence all afternoon and finally scored in the 23rd minute when Burgess and Wolffe teamed up with the former finding the net.

Vacso kept up their relentless pressure as Donovan Livingston put three of his attempts against the crossbar. A minute later, Paul Towlson had his header just tipped over by 'keeper Minors. Two minutes from the half, Voorhees Astwood had point-blank shot nestle into the chest of the 'keeper.

St. David's took the sting out of Vasco when Jerry Laws fed a beautiful sideline pass to a streaking Cann who managed to elude two defenders and drill his shot past Sims a minute before the half.

Three minutes into the second half, Vasco equalised when the St. David's defence failed to clear after a well-taken corner kick by Astwood. Wolffe pounced on the ball and stroked his shot into the net through a crowded goalmouth.

However, on the afternoon, St. David's were not to be denied as they came roaring back one minute later when again Cann got by his defender.

The ensuing blast was turned away but right into the path of an onrushing Pace who pounded the rebound into the back of the net for what proved to be the winner.

A free-falling Vasco outfit, suffered the ultimate indignity when St. David's scored their fourth 10 minutes from time.

The goal came after Towlson made a back-pass to his 'keeper, which Sims somehow failed to control. Before he could correct his miscue, Pace raced in and stripped him of the ball and scored leaving with the Vasco bench in shock.

St. David's: S.Minors, S.Pitcher, D.Fox, S.Jones, E.Wolffe, E.Crockwell, L.Cann, J.Laws, J.Pace, O.J.Minors (G.Swainson, 45 mins), S.Robinson.

Vasco: G.Sims, E.Richardson, D.Livingston, P.Towlson, C.LLoyd, V.Astwood, K.Roberts, A.Wolffe (A.Cabral, 72 mins) I.Burgess, R.Mallory, D.Thomas.

Referee: Roddy Burchall.

Men of the match: Sidney Minors (St.David's); Donovan Livingston (Vasco).