Boulevard 2 Southampton Rangers 1

Boulevard dodged several bullets at BAA Field yesterday before finally coming away with their first win of the season against Premier Division newcomers Southampton Rangers.

Had this been a boxing match, referee Cal Simons might have stepped in and ended the bout as Rangers had their more colourful opponents pinned up against the ropes for long spells and at times wobbling on their knees.

First, Rangers, displaying tremendous heart, saw Otis Steede's firmly struck free kick from 25 yards clip the crossbar and then a shout for a Rohaan Simons penalty fall on deaf ears.

Blazers then survived two late goal mouth scrambles as the visitors maintained their relentless pressure during a dominating second half.

But at the final whistle, Rangers came out on the short end of the stick as Blazers weathered the storm and held on to bag three hard-fought points.

The home team caught their opponents napping at the back twice during the first half and punished them dearly with two beautifully taken goals by Raymond Burgess and Robert Wilson. Herbie Dillas replied for Rangers.

During an action packed, entertaining, 90 minutes of soccer, Blazers took a tenth minute lead after surviving a few early close calls.

Timing both his run and a high ball to perfection, Burgess beat Rangers' 'keeper Dwayne (Streaker) Adams with a firm, low drive to his right from eight yards out.

Referee Simons then stepped in to cool things down as Blazers' temperamental forward Melchisedec Gibbons and Steede became involved in an off-the-ball scuffle.

Rangers, holding onto a marginal edge in the middle of the park, responded with Shawn Simons blasting a shot from an acute angle into the side-netting.

However, the visitors found themselves in a deeper hole when Boulevard doubled their lead against the run of play midway through the half.

After a brief goalmouth scramble, Wilson brilliantly curled the loose ball in at the far post, despite the presence of two defenders standing on the goal-line.

At that point one might have figured Rangers were dead and buried, especially when Blazers captain Shaki Crockwell raced towards goal only to have the referee blow the whistle for an off-the-ball incident.

Adams then did well to collect the ball, facing into the sun, with Burgess breathing in his face.

However, just when it appeared as though Blazers would take a two-goal cushion into the changing room, Rangers finally pulled one back to make it 2-1 at the half, Dillas getting a second bite of the cherry to stab home Omari Hart's cross from the left.

With their tails now up, Rangers threatened to equalise with Steede left holding his head as he watched his 25 yard free kick ricochet off the crossbar.

But Blazers, quick on the counter-attack, created several more opportunities to increase their lead. Shortly after the restart, Burgess had a low shot come back off the post, while Crockwell's shot from an acute angle on the left ended up in the side-netting.

At the other end, Shawn Simons had a goalbound shot blocked by the Blazers defence while right-back Wilson ? called upon to make several crucial plays ? cleared a shot off the line as Rangers continued to apply the pressure.

Play toward the end of the match reached fever pitch with Simons again having to step in to pry apart Shawn Simons and Blazers' veteran Leroy Stevens.

Rangers were also fortunate to get away unpunished when player/coach Meshach Wade handled the ball in the penalty area.

However, the visitors' luck finally ran out towards the latter stages of the match with two raids on goal cleared away, allowing Blazers to hold onto a one-goal advantage and a first league win of the season.

Boulevard will now look to carry that momentum into tomorrow night's Martonmere Cup semi-final clash against Devonshire Cougars at the National Sports Centre.

Boulevard: C.Durrant, L.Stevens, R.Wilson, S.Lewis, T.Trott, L.Hypolite, C.Trott, T.Davis (M.Parsons, 57 mins), M.Gibbons, R.Burgess (T.Walker, 75 mins), S.Crockwell (B.Hicham, 81 mins).: D.Adams, O.Hart, O.Steede, S.Simons, M.Wade, H.Dillas, R.Simmons (A.Russell, 62 mins), K.Tucker, R.Simons, E.Pitt (C.Darrell, 45 mins), D.Bailey (D.Smith, 83 mins).: H.Dillas, C.Darrell (Southampton).: R.Wilson (Boulevard); M.Wade (Southampton).: Cal Simons.