Ascento Russell's 59th minute strike yesterday at BAA Field kept Vasco on course for their second straight Coca Cola league title and third in four seasons.

It was a match that third-placed North Village could not afford to lose if they were to stay in the title hunt. Now they trail the leaders by eight points with five games remaining, which means their hopes of a first league title in 20 years will depend on Vasco -- still unbeaten in the league -- losing three of their remaining five matches.

Village did beat Vasco over Christmas on their way to winning the Dudley Eve.

But Vasco, already out of the FA Cup, are clearly determined to hang on to the league.

The home team went close to breaking the deadlock in the 16th minute when Tafari Outerbridge's shot was blocked and Russell turned and unleashed a shot from the edge of the box which brought off a good save from Gladwin Edness, tipping the ball over the bar.

Most of the early attacking was done by Vasco but Village, with the experienced former National team pair, Neil Robinson and Elliott Jennings leading their attack, were soon in the thick of the action.

A pass reached Robinson on the right flank on the half hour and his first time volley from outside the box hit the sidenetting although Timmy Figureido had it covered. At the other end Russell laid the ball back for Outerbridge to blast wide.

Vasco went close to scoring two minutes before the break when Outerbridge's shot brought off a save by the diving Edness. Dwight Basden pounced on the loose ball but his effort went untouched across goal and past the far post with no one following up.

Elliott Jennings went close with a similiar shot early in the second half as Village stepped up their game. However, the goal that would deny them the points came three minutes later.

Basden crossed from the right and Russell put a mis-hit shot inside the near post out of the reach of Edness. Vasco created another opening soon afterwards when the ball was headed on for Basden but he wasted his left-footed shot from inside the box.

Village's player-coach Kenny Thompson, who was so instrumental in the team's Dudley Eve success, brought himself on in the final 15 minutes but the Vasco defence, marshalled by Kentoine Jennings, stood firm.

Edness denied Sinclair Gibbons scoring direct from an inswinging corner in the 80th minute when he tipped the cross over the bar.

Vasco: T.Figureido; D.Stapley, K.Jennings, C.Roberts, W.Augustus, L.Durham, T.Outerbridge, O.Steede, S.Gibbons, D.Basden, A.Russell (T.Darrell 88 mins).

Village: G.Edness; M.Hansey, J.Thomas, K.Dill, R.Edness, P.Mahoney, J.Boyles (J.Samuels 80min), D.Jennings (C.Dill 78 mins), N.Robinson, E.Jennings, K.Simpson (K.Thompson 75 mins).

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.

Men of the match: Kentoine Jennings (Vasco), Neil Robinson (Village).

Stretched: North Village defender Kofi Dill is fully extended as he tries to prevent Otis Steede from making this cross into the box yesterday at BAA Field where Vasco won 1-0.