Eager to prove that they were not a "last place'' team, Devonshire Colts yesterday clawed their way off the bottom of the First Division by taking a much deserved point in this clash at Lord's.

With their confidence now seemingly restored, Colts might have smashed Boulevard's challenge during the first half but were unlucky when efforts by Craig Smith, young Damon Ming and Ellington Weldon during the first 18 minutes only barely failed to find the back of the net.

Clearly showing the effects of a team struggling to improve on four draws from five matches, Boulevard took a while to settle and this enabled their younger opponents to take the initiative during the first half.

Smith saw his hard right-footed drive from 16 yards pushed wide of the post by goalkeeper Mitchell Steede after just four minutes.

While Boulevard retaliated with Dwight Warren hitting an angled shot from close in straight into the side-netting four minutes later, it was a half that belonged to the visiting club.

With skipper Shannon Burgess and Mckonnen Hollis holding together the middle of the defence tightly, Colts looked far more composed and threatened regularly with only some good defending by Leroy Stevens thwarting their efforts.

After 15 minutes Colts had their best chance to score when nimble winger Ming slipped through the defence on a breakaway, but he put his shot into the grateful arms of the advancing Steede.

Three minutes later Colts were even more unlucky when Weldon broke through and sent a screaming drive from 16 yards that crashed off the bar before being cleared.

Boulevard slowly came into the game but their attack was virtually non-existent with skipper Stevie Wade, Warren and Michael Holdipp unable to put the finishing touches to some good build-ups.

Craig Smith once again came close to putting Colts ahead with a shot from 18-yards that sailed just wide of the post with Steede well off his line after 36 minutes, but within two minutes Boulevard roared back with the out-of-touch Shivaughn Smith watching in agony as his shot from close range was smothered by goalkeeper Randy Darrell.

While the first half ended with some enterprising play there was no resumption of this trend when play restarted and in sharp contrast the second half was largely uninspiring with both attacks revealing their limitations.

Wade and Holdipp increased their work-rate up front for Boulevard but most of the raids they led fizzled out, while Colts endured similar frustrations up front with nobody capable of stretching the defence.

Colts' substitute Tajmal Webb was sent off for dissent after 88 minutes.

Boulevard: M.Steede; L.Hypolite, L.Stevens, M.Trott, A.Caisey; G.Smith (D.Smith, 85 mins), S.Smith (V.Darrell, 62 mins), R.Lambe (V.Symonds, 45 mins); M.Holdipp, D.Warren, S.Wade.

Dev.Colts: R.Darrell; S.Waldron (V.Ball, 74 mins), M.Hollis, S.Burgess, K.Burchall; J.Samuels, M.Ray, J.Belboda; C.Smith (T.Webb, 67 mins), E.Weldon, D.Ming (S.Phillips, 74 mins).

Referee: Richard Knight Men of the match: Leroy Stevens (Boulevard); Makonnen Hollis (Colts)