Crafty right-winger Derek Thomas tore the heart out of Dandy Town last night when he snatched the deciding goal after 74 minutes to give Vasco victory in this Martonmere Cup semi-final at Devonshire Rec.

Hesitation among defenders Diallo Sharieff and Lloyd Christopher allowed a bouncing ball from centre-half Paul Towlson to slip untouched between the pair and fly directly into the path of the grateful Thomas who coolly slotted it home.

The goal deflated Town just as they had begun to look the better team for the first time, moving the ball longer distances and into more penetrating areas after enduring a mediocre first half.

However, the only chance Town managed to create after Thomas's goal came from Darron Simons. But his feeble attempted header after 82 minutes proved no threat as Timmy Figureido in the Vasco goal dived comfortably to his right to push the ball around the post for a corner.

Despite the defeat Town coach Mark Trott must have been pleased to see his team make a dramatic improvement in the second half when they lifted their pace and rhythm above their opponents from the kick-off.

Vasco had taken a 1-0 lead in the first half with a fine goal by Voorhees Astwood which came after 41 minutes. He latched onto a pass by Kentoine Jennings and sent home a screaming left-footed drive from the edge of the penalty box.

During the first 45 minutes Vasco looked slightly the better side, as they held territorial advantage.

Their best efforts came from Earl Richardson, Jennings and Thomas who were either wide or high with long-range shots.

But Town remained a threat and always managed to worry the defence when the speedy Carlos Smith went on one of his bewildering runs. Their best chance came after 33 minutes when the sliding Joey Weeks put a pass from Darron Simons over the top from close range.

When play restarted Town appeared motivated from coach Trott's half-time pep talk and looked the sharper team.

After 47 minutes Smith's shot from 15 yards was pushed wide by Figureido and two minutes later Vasco had another scare when right full-back Sinclair Gibbons was well placed on the goal-line to head away a soft header by Smith which had been destined for the back of the net.

Floodlight failure for a period of 15 minutes when a section of the lights near the clubhouse went out didn't seem to bother Town once play restarted.

They immediatley regained the initiative and within a minute Carlos Smith scored directly from a free kick outside the penalty box -- a shot that goalkeeper Figureido seemed to misjudge and consequently made little effort to grab.

But Vasco had the last laugh and during a counter attack Thomas made Town pay for the defensive lapse.

Dandy Town: C.Davis; L.Christopher, W.Campbell, D.Sharieff, W.Rudo; P.Douglas, T.Lewis (A.Cannonier, 78 mins), W.Musson; D.Simons, J.Weeks (N.Webb, 65 mins), C.Smith.

Vasco: T.Figureido; S.Gibbons, P.Towlson, D.Livingston, E.Richardson; W.Burgess (F.Simmons, 36 mins), K.Jennings, M.Ray; D.Thomas, I.Burgess (A.Wolffe, 78 mins), V.Astwood.

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.

Men of the match: Carlos Smith (Dandy Town); Voorhees Astwood (Vasco).

VOORHEES ASTWOOD -- his thundering drive from the edge of the penalty area gave Vasco the lead in last night's Martonmere Cup semi-final against Dandy Town. Vasco went on to win 2-1.