Colts win 3-1 on penalties Champions Vasco find themselves in the losers' bracket of the Dudley Eve after three out of four penalty misses cost them last night at Devonshire Rec.

Regular penalty taker Earl Richardson, whose spotkick brought them back to 2-2 in the second half and forced the match into penalties, was held back for what his coach thought would be the fifth and deciding penalty. But the failure of three of his team-mates to find the net meant that the fifth round of penalties were not needed as Colts won easily.

After Shannon Burgess, Mark (Beaver) Ray and Ellington Weldon scored for Colts, Corey Hill missed the first of Vasco's penalties before Kentoine Jennings scored the team's second. And when Derek Stapley had his effort saved by Troy Hall, the chance was there for Vic Ball to clinch it with his team's fourth kick.

However, Timmy Figureido saved to his left and when Shawn Smith smashed his effort against the underside of the crossbar, referee Esten Curtis was perfectly placed to judge that the ball did not drop over the line and blew the final whistle.

The match did not start out so well for Colts, however, as just 30 seconds into the game Vasco took the lead when Irving Burgess scored with a low shot to Hall's left.

After 10 minutes Colts were level when Ray's fierce low shot from inside the box swerved slightly to beat Figureido who thought he had it covered.

The match was wide open after that as both teams went close, but it was Colts who found the net again in the 26th minute when Paul Towlson was robbed and after Weldon's shot was blocked, Ball followed up to plant a sweet low shot from outside the box inside the 'keeper's right-hand post.

Steven Arorash put a shot against the bar five minutes before he was floored by a late tackle from Makonnen Hollis and Richardson made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Colts came close to winning it in regulation time when a neat flick by Ray put Keimon Lawrence free on the left in the 70th minute. His first time shot smashed against the near post as Vasco were let off.

PHC 1 Dandy Town 0 PHC scored a surprise victory over favourites Dandy Town in this Dudley Eve Trophy opener at Devonshire Rec. last night, thanks to a well-taken goal by hard-working forward Kenny Mills late in the first half.

Midfielder Otis Steede collected a ball midway in Dandy Town's half and sent a defence-splitting pass that saw Mills race after, coolly control himself and advance into the box to send a drive by the falling goalkeeper Cymande Davis after 41 minutes to seal it for PHC.

If PHC were to score there was always an indication that their goal would come from the spirited Mills in this manner.

Throughout the first half he was a force up front for PHC who, during sporadic attacks, worried the defence with these counter attacks.

For Dandy Town, while never allowing their opponents to take the initiative for any sustained period, it was a night of misery as far as attacking and shooting was concerned.

Time and time again they advanced deep into PHC's half but often these attacks broke down through misdirected passes as their forwards approached the penalty area, enabling the PHC defence to clear the ball of any real danger.

Before delivering the goal that was to clinch it for PHC, Mills drilled two shots over while centre-back Dano Outerbridge slammed another wide from 19 yards.

Dandy Town played with more urgency in the second half but their finishing woes continued.