Relegated Devonshire Cougars turned the tables and made themselves favourites for the FA Cup after an efficient performance at PHC Stadium yesterday.

Two goals from Philip Clarke and a cracking strike from Preston Mallory sealed it for the visitors after a scoreless first half and it could have been more against a Vasco side, who were further ripped apart by dissension in the ranks.

What Vasco had accomplished to be considered a class side is surely now a distant memory with various players prepared to tear into one another at the drop of a dime. It was a showing that coach John Rebello, confined to his sick bed, did well to miss.

Vasco actually had the better of the first half with Irving Burgess in threatening form and Mark Ray a force in midfield.

Burgess was just over with a half-volley in the ninth minute and then shot high when well placed on his next chance from the right after 28 minutes.

Much-maligned Cougars goalkeeper Leon Place had one of his better matches and he was called into action early to save at Burgess' feet on the end of an over-hit pass from Ray.

Burgess redirected a hard Ray free kick over in the 35th minute before getting one on target that Place was equal to.

However, on the stroke of half-time Cougars came closest to scoring with Vasco keeper Timmy Figureido racing back to tip over a thoughtful Wali Salaam free kick.

The half ended with Vasco's Larance Durham in heated argument with team-mates over a refereeing call and it was no surprise when he was replaced with Albert Wolffe at the restart.

Cougars now called the tune with Jamal Salaam working well with Clarke up front. In the 52nd minute, this combination brought the opening goal, Clarke picking his spot and side-footing the ball past Figureido after the heart of the defence was breached.

Vasco fell apart from here and took a kamikaze approach to the game until the end, throwing countless players forward in vain while Cougars took advantage with counter-attack after counter-attack.

Shortly after Mallory wasted an opportunity for Cougars, captain Shawn Smith curled a free kick onto the bar with Figureido beaten. Then, on another quick break, Mallory shot over.

The game was sealed in the 70th minute on a rare 'keeping error by Figureido after Cougars roared forward.

Clarke took a pass from Marlon Lindsay and cut in on the right before hitting a dipping shot that caught Figureido with his hands pointed up and the ball went throught him for a soft goal.

There was nothing soft about the final goal in the 76th minute, however. After weighing his options on a four-on-two break, Mallory kept the ball, sold Earl Richardson a wicked body swerve and beat Figureido to his right with a rasping drive from the edge of the area.

Just before that goal, Lindsay was clean through but under-hit his lob attempt and the 'keeper saved.

Right from the kick-off, Vasco should have scored on their best move of the day. Richardson combined with Sinclair Gibbons and Ray before hitting a superb cross that a diving Wolffe headed miserably wide.

Wolffe made amends, sort of, in the 79th minute with a left-foot drive that Place plucked out of the air. It was, after all, Vasco's first shot on target in the half and second in the match.

Cougars nearly added three more at the end but Figureido came through by forcing Smith to shoot over, making a good reflex save after Curtis Azhar's free kick took a wicked deflection and then using one hand to turn over an acute angle shot from Wali Salaam.

The result gives Cougars all the confidence they need to do well in the final, especially with Clevie Campbell resting. Vasco, too, rested players -- Dwight Basden, Karl Roberts, and Paul Towlson -- but they are not playing well enough nowadays to simply turn it on at will.

Vasco: T.Figureido; E.Richardson, D.Livingston, K.Jennings, D.Stapley; W.Burgess (M.Tankard, 71 mins), M.Ray, L.Durham (A.Wolffe, 45 mins); I.Burgess, K.Dill, S.Gibbons.

Devonshire Cougars: L.Place; T.James, G.Butterfield, S.Smith, S.Coddington; D.Russell (C.Azhar, 68 mins), W.Salaam, J.Salaam (T.Burgess, 65 mins); P.Mallory, P.Clarke, M.Lindsay.

Referee: Cal Simons.

Men of the match: Timmy Figureido (Vasco); Wali Salaam (Devonshire Cougars).