A goal in the last minute of play by Sheridan (Baldy) Ming provided the killer punch in this Dudley Eve do-or-die match on Boxing Day, just when it looked as though Boulevard would be involved in their second penalty shoot-out at PHC Stadium this season.

The seconds were ticking away on referee Esten Curtis' watch when the ball was knocked back through the middle by Blenn Bean following a PHC corner on the left. And Ming, near the edge of the penalty box, turned and fired a perfectly placed shot inside 'keeper Mitchell Steede's left hand post.

Just a few weeks ago, in the longest match of the season, Boulevard went down to Devonshire Cougars on penalty kicks in the Friendship Trophy. And though this is another trophy they will not win, Boulevard didn't seem too disheartened by Monday's loss.

On the bright side, it at least gives them some time to concentrate on improving their injury-hit ranks in time for the start of the second half of the league season. Defender Leroy Stevens is their latest casualty, having missed Monday's match after showing signs of an injury in the first Dudley Eve game last week.

Despite being so badly hit -- they had just two players on the bench -- Boulevard held their own in this match in the losers' bracket of the double elimination tournament.

The Zebras were first to find their rhythm and had good scoring chances in the opening minutes before Boulevard gradually settled into their game. From the 10th minute to late in the half Boulevard were on even par with PHC as their front line of Dwight Warren, Stevie Wade and Ross Lambe kept the Zebras defence busy. Lambe put a header straight at 'keeper Ty Williams in the 11th minute following a Warren cross from the left and then Wade slid an effort just past the far post after an opening had been created.

Moments later Wayne (Bigga) Richardson, Boulevard's most experienced player, headed over the bar after getting into a scoring position from his midfield position.

The chances kept coming for Boulevard as PHC were forced to defend. Warren drove a shot low and hard across goal in the 21st minute after a quickly taken free kick on the left when Wade was fouled by Mark Wade.

PHC were never out of the game for long, though, and in the 39th minute Boulevard 'keeper Mitchell Steede made a good save from a snapshot by Blenn Bean following a free kick on the left side of the box.

Boulevard had their first sub, Vincent Tuzo, warming up in the closing minutes of the first half and at the start of the second he replaced midfielder Michael Sabeeney.

It didn't immediately produce the desired result as it was PHC who broke the deadlock just three minutes later when a move was started by Blenn Bean and resulted in Shawn Simons making the telling cross from the left for Winston Trott to crouch and steer his header past Steede from close range.

The goal opened up all sorts of possibilities as Boulevard took just two minutes to wipe out the lead when Vernon Eve scored from Stevie Wade's corner on the left.

It seemed as though a flurry of goals would come after that, but chances went begging at both ends before Ming's late winner eliminated Boulevard.

A good chance to seal the match had fallen to Boulevard substitute Tuzo in the 85th minute but he put his shot well off target when well placed. It was around the same time that Raynel Lightbourne was coming on for Winston Trott in the PHC attack. Earlier Stanton Lewis had come on to replace Gavin Simmons.

PHC: T.Williams; R.Lewis, B.Simons, D.Outerbridge, M.Wade; B.Bean, S.Ming, G.Simmons (S.Lewis 65 mins), W.Trott (R.Lightbourne 85 mins), S.Simons, S.Swan.

Boulevard: M.Steede; A.Caisey, G.Smith, M.Trott, A.Smith; W.Richardson, V.Eve, M.Sabeeney (V.Tuzo 45 mins), S.Wade, D.Warren, R.Lambe.

Referee: Esten Curtis Men of the match: Sheridan Ming (PHC), Mitchell Trott (Boulevard).