Blazers breeze past punchless Town
Boulevard claimed their first league win and earned a measure of respect while sending Dandy Town to their first defeat of the season during a scrappy affair at Devonshire Rec. last night.
Second half goals by Kenny Hill and substitute Ross Lambe, combined with a first half strike from Rodney Bascome conspired to lay waste to a decidedly out of sync Town outfit, who mustered a bevy of chances but counted just a single Darron Simons goal to their credit.
Such was Town's misfortune that even in scoring they `lost', as Simons needed to be stretchered off with what appeared to be an injured left knee.
In fact, the match was noted for the number of injuries incurred, with no less than four players left hobbling at the end.
Town were most affected as goalkeeper Antoine Lightbourne (back), midfielder Reggie Tucker (stomach) and Simons were forced out of the action, while the Blazers lost stalwart centre back Leroy Stevens late in the game.
Bascome pushed Boulevard into the lead a minute from the half, benefiting from some shoddy defending on the part of Town as a bounding through ball from Kenny Hill somehow eluded three defenders and allowed Bascome to nip in and place a perfect chip over an advancing Lightbourne.
Boulevard took a decided advantage in the second period, controlling most of the possession and were further rewarded in the 81st minute when Hill converted with an open header following a goalmouth scramble.
Simons pulled one back seven minutes later, but Lambe confirmed matters, snaking two defenders and substitute 'keeper Cymande Davis before tapping home from a yard out.
PHC 4 St. George's 0 Nothing like a visit from St. George's to cure PHC's woes.
Losers of their first league game and eliminated from the Martonmere Cup, PHC took out their frustrations on a team that seems destined to be playing in the Second Division next season.
The loss was St George's fourth of the year and worse, they're still looking for their first goal, having conceded a total of 20.
Last night they didn't even come close to breaking that drought.
PHC coach Jack Castle used two goalkeepers -- Jason Robinson and Jay Smith -- but probably could have got away without any.
Although the effort was there, St. George's rarely had more than two consecutive touches of the ball and their two best scoring chances both ended in offside calls.
PHC, meanwhile, scored their four goals from at least a dozen good opportunities. At the end, they might have doubled their score.
Raynel Lightbourne finally opened the scoring after 35 minutes after Kenny Mills had weaved his way through the defence and drawn two defenders before releasing the ball.
It was 2-0 at the half and Lightbourne scored again eight minutes into the second after he was allowed space by two defenders and easily redirected a long cross from the left wing into the net.
Michael Williams then rounded out the scoring when St. George's keeper Rodney Burchall was caught flat footed by a 20-yard blast.
Burchall, who probably felt like a duck at a shooting gallery, had to leave the game in the 87th minute clutching his chest, apparently still feeling the effects from a first half collision.
Hamilton Parish 0 Hotels 2 For the second time in less than a week Hamilton Parish fell victim to Hotels, as the Second Division newcomers improved their league record to 2-0-0 at Devonshire Rec. last night.
Settling the issue in favour of the visitors were Dennis Robinson and substitute Craig Critchlow. In last night's other Second Division match Somerset drew 2-2 with Wolves.