Just when they threatened to lose their heads -- and the game -- Boulevard recovered to stake their claim to the First Division crown.

Capping a frantic second half, substitute Kenny Mills scored with 15 minutes to play yesterday, pulling Boulevard level with front-runners Vasco, who were held to a 1-1 draw with Dandy Town.

Boulevard and Village entered yesterday's match at Bernard Park with identical 5-2-2 records for 17 points.

But after thoroughly dominating the host team and building a 2-0 lead with two quick strikes to open the second half, Boulevard started celebrating a little too soon.

On a rare foray into the opposition end, Village striker Jamel Smith slipped a 65th minute rebound past the outstretched arm of back-up goalkeeper Andre Hendrickson, just inside the near post.

Then, two minutes later, Boulevard's Donnie Charles was blown for a controversial handball just inside the penalty area. Charles and his team-mates erupted in anger, and, joined by team officials who charged off the bench, swarmed referee Anthony Mouchette.

Boulevard were lucky to escape without a red card, although coach Herbie Bascome was ordered off the bench and will be the subject of a report handed over to the Bermuda Football Association. As it was, Mouchette issued seven cautions on the day, four to Boulevard.

Calvin Dill equalised with the ensuing penalty, giving Village a spark they lacked the entire game.

Boulevard's loss of composure, however, only lasted about eight minutes.

Going against the run of play, Dwight Warren burst down the middle, and just as two Village defenders converged on him, the dangerous Boulevard striker slipped a through ball in for Mills, who took a step and slammed a shot into the roof of the Village net.

Warren had given Boulevard a 2-0 lead in the 53rd minute, taking advantage of a mix-up in the Village defence, and breaking in alone on 'keeper Gladwin Edness. He eluded one tackler and faked Edness before sliding the ball into the net.

Midfielder Dean Boyles opened the scoring three minutes earlier, when his long, low shot found its way between four bodies and past Edness.

So dominant were Boulevard that Village didn't get their first shot on Hendrickson until the 25th minute. That opportunity -- Smith's 15-yard blast directly into the 'keeper's chest -- was also Village's most dangerous until the second half.

North Village: G.Edness, K.Dill, D.Whitfield, I.Romaine, M.Hansey, J.Boyles, L.Cann, C.Dill, J.Jennings, E.Jennings, J.Smith Boulevard: A.Hendrickson, D.Charles, L.Stevens, D.Boyles, A.Caisey, L.Hypolite, N.Robinson (K.Mills, 70 mins), R.Todd, R.Bascome, D.Warren, T.Outerbridge Referee: Anthony Mouchette Men of the match: Eliott Jennings (Village); Dwight Warren (Boulevard)