Cognisant of how much was riding on yesterday's match, Devonshire Cougars dug deep and rebounded from an early setback to clinch a crucial 3-2 victory over Boulevard.

The outcome at the Den left the big cats in a two-team tussle with Premier Division frontrunners and defending champions Dandy Town - who lead by a point - for league honours with two rounds remaining.

Having shrugged off a variety of problems this season - including the year-long suspension of three frontline players and long-term injuries to striker Aljame Zuill and first-choice ‘keeper Ricardo Brangman - Cougars were not about to let an improbable sixth-minute goal by Boulevard derail their focus or intentions.

They struck twice within 16 minutes, on either side of the half, to wrest a 2-1 advantage and, despite an awesome free kick by Dwight (Payback) Warren to pull the visiting Blazers level 2-2, found a winner from substitute Reginald Baker's heavy boot with seven minutes left.

Boulevard - who are still not free from the threat of relegation - would still have kicked themselves for losing shape and order after falling behind early in the second half.

Having been gifted a fortuitous lead after just six minutes, as Jahmel Samuels' 30-yard right-footer sailed over Lovintz Tota's head and dropped into net, Blazers appeared ready to put a spoke in Cougars' wheels. In fact, livewire Samuels was the source of some of Boulevard's best chances; one of his efforts from distance nearly back-spun into the goal as Tota scrambled to collect on the rebound. Torry Davis' long-range free kick then sent the athletic ‘keeper airborne to tip to safety.

Snapping out of their shock, Cougars regrouped and began to make inroads en route to equalising from the spot in the 34th minute.

Boulevard custodian Nathan Darrell's exuberance of saving Shawn Smith's penalty - after goal-bound Domico Coddington was axed by a clumsy Stanton Lewis - was tempered by linesman Cornell Castle flagging that Darrell have moved prematurely. A grateful Smith made no mistake with his retake.

Five minutes after the break, Kori Goddard, who was proving effective on the right wing, sent Cougars ahead, netting his own rebound from close range. Looking for an insurance third goal, Devonshire poured forward while Boulevard, as is often their wont, buckled under the relentless pressure; Darrell doing well to keep out some point-blank efforts, including a crisp Coddington header.

Once again, against the run of play, Boulevard scored in the 76th minute, evening matters 2-2 as Warren curled a free kick from outside the right edge of the area over the diminutive Tota's head.

Desperate for all three points, Cougars attacked determinedly and, in the 83rd minute, their persistence was rewarded as burly relief striker Baker smashed home his own close-range rebound, Darrell again failing to collect the first attempt cleanly.

As the match petered out, the final few minutes were tempered by concern for Blazers midfielder Taurianno Trott who fell perilously on his head and was rushed to hospital.

Devonshire Cougars: L.Tota, S.Smith (C.Caisey, 85 mins), D.Cox, J.Deshields, K.Goddard, N.Robinson, J.Butterfield, K.Simpson, K.Steede, D.Coddington, M.Steede (R.Baker, 63 mins).

Boulevard: N.Darrell, T.Davis, C.Trott, S.Lewis, T.Trott (D.Samuels, 82 mins), M.Parsons, J.Samuels (M.Pace, 68 mins), D.Warren, M.Gibbons, R.Burgess, G.Johnson (D.Rogers, 56 mins).

Yellow cards: M.Steede, R.Baker (Cougars); J.Samuels, D.Rogers (Boulevard).

Men of the Match: K.Goddard (Cougars); C.Trott (Boulevard).

Referee: George O'Brien.