FA Cup final.

But Dandy Town's Troy Lewis would rather nobody mentioned his 83rd minute winner in yesterday's final at the National Stadium.

For when his header went in off the underside of the crossbar just nine minutes after he had come on to replace the injured Darron (Duke) Simons it was Vasco, not Dandy Town, who were jumping for joy with seven precious minutes remaining.

The faux pas capped an astonishing fightback by Vasco, who had fallen behind in the 70th minute when Carlos Smith calmly nodded home his 17th goal of the season.

Smith was left unmarked as he met Kris Martin's cross from the left and he finished off the move with a header inside the far post.

However, the key turning point proved not to be that opening goal, which obviously brought the game to life, but rather the injury to substitute Simons just 30 seconds after he came on to replace Walter Musson.

His first touch in the 67th minute was followed by a harsh tackle from Gary Ray, playing in place of Karl Roberts, which brought an angry reaction from Town players.

When emotions had cooled, Ray and Town's Devarr Boyles were booked by referee Rex Osborne while Simons still lay on the ground receiving treatment to his right leg.

Minutes later Lewis replaced the still limping Simons.

"It (injury) was a big factor,'' Mark Trott admitted. "When he (Simons) comes on he creates stuff for us.'' Voorhees Astwood, formerly a Town captain, engineered the Vasco fightback that was to shatter Town's dream of four trophies, including the triple crown (league, FA and Friendship).

Astwood started and then finished off a good move that brought the equaliser in the 77th minute. He passed forward inside the box to Irving Burgess and took the return pass before driving a volley inside Anthony Manders' far post.

Two minutes later Vasco scored the winner when Astwood chipped neatly from the left and Lewis, in an obvious attempt to clear, put a diving header past his stranded 'keeper as Durham challenged.

"I'm happy for the victory and I think a lot of congratulations go to the team, it was a team effort,'' said Astwood afterwards.

"We had a bad start to the season, but we picked up, came together as a unit and hung in there, we prayed and came out with one trophy this season which was good.'' Emotions were still running high as Ricky Mallory was booked in the 73rd minute for kicking Lloyd Christopher right in front of referee Osborne after the Town captain had robbed him and cleared the ball.

Vasco skipper Paul Towlson, who was playing in midfield in place of the absent Roberts, had his name taken in the 85th minute for a foul, a booking that would have brought a suspension for the replay if Town had managed an equaliser in the closing minutes.

The second half was a marked improvement on the first. Town created the better of the first-half chances as they tested the Vasco defence from the outset.

Vasco played with Earl Richardson and Ray in the middle with Donovan Livingston and with Carl Ainscough in a defensive midfield position on the left and picking up wide player Pernell Douglas whenever Town pushed forward.

Carlos Smith's volley from as early as the second minute was smartly saved at the near post by 'keeper Keenan Tucker as the top scorer created openings in a Vasco defence that was still settling. At the other end Burgess ran virtually non-stop for Vasco, though often with little support.

He helped create a chance for Durham in the 24th minute after putting pressure on the Town defence and Durham following up at the far post to get off a shot that was blocked by Manders.

Troy Durham became the first booking in the 34th minute when he was shown the yellow card for dissent.

"It was a great team effort,'' said coach John Rebello. "Today Vasco wanted it more than Dandy Town, it's plain and simple.

"Dandy Town have been a great team but on the day we were the better team.'' Town coach Trott admitted to being disappointed at the result. "I'm disappointed because we lost the FA Cup, not disappointed in our season. The team did it all during the season but today we did not come up to our standards.'' Vasco were able to replace Astwood with Tony Cabral four minutes from the end.

He was one of only two subs on the Vasco bench.

Vasco: K.Tucker; C.Lloyd, E.Richardson, D.Livingston, G.Ray, C.Ainscough, V.Astwood (T.Cabral 86min), P.Towlson, R.Mallory, I.Burgess.

Dandy Town: A.Manders; L.Christopher, W.Rudo, W.Campbell, T.Durham; P.Douglas, D.Boyles, P.Cann, W.Musson (D.Simons 67min)(T.Lewis 74min); C.Smith.

Referee: Rex Osborne Men of match: Irving Burgess (Vasco), Paul Cann (Dandy Town).