Two minutes after he was fortunate to survive a sending off, Stevie Wade popped up with the winner as Boulevard became the first team to beat St.

George's twice in the league this season.

Wade, who scored both goals in the 2-1 win at Wellington Oval in October including an injury time winner, found the net in the last minute of the first half to give Boulevard the lead for the first time in the match.

Yet he was lucky to still be on the pitch because of an off-the-ball incident in the 42nd minute with Clay Smith. Both players had already been booked by new FIFA-listed referee Stuart Crockwell when Smith knocked into Wade as Boulevard were preparing for a throw-in.

That incident was spotted by Crockwell but he did not see Wade strike out at Smith in retaliation and when he reached into his pocket it looked as if both players would be seeing red.

However, it was Smith who got his marching orders as he protested and then kicked the ball away in anger before being escorted off.

It wasn't until half-time that Wade's retalitaion was pointed out to Crockwell by volunteer linesman Steven Denbrook, a former St. George's player who was standing near the incident. Crockwell confirmed afterwards he did not see Wade strike out.

Wade was the first booking of the match in the 22nd minute, for kicking the ball away after he failed to keep it in play.

A minute later St. George's took the lead when a ball was knocked forward and headed into the path of Dean Minors by Clay Smith. Minors raced into the box, shrugging off a challenge, and placed the ball under the body of goalkeeper Mitchell Steede and into the far corner.

It took Boulevard just two minutes to respond, equalising through a glancing header from Dwight Warren into the roof of the net after a George Smith cross on the left.

Clay Smith was cautioned in the 31st minute for a foul on Dean Boyles as both teams remained competitive despite the strong cross-field wind.

Another cross from the left, into the wind, produced what would turn out to be Boulevard's winner as Wade scored with a low shot into the far corner.

Despite the handicap of playing one man short, St. George's had a big share of the second half opportunities. Boulevard's George Smith became the third booking of the match when he stopped Gregg Foggo in his tracks by pulling on his shirt in the 51st minute as the winger raced through the middle.

From the resulting free kick on the edge of the box, Minors' powerful shot took a deflection before 'keeper Steede tipped it over the bar. That would be one of many chances for St. George's as Boulevard were forced to defend for long periods.

However, they had a couple of good chances themselves soon after, the first falling to Warren on the edge of the six yard box which he tried to control on his left foot, and the second moments later when Kenny Darrell put in a weak shot inside the box after the ball fell to him from a Dean Boyles free kick deep on the right side.

Further chances came at each end as Minors lifted the ball over the top after some good work down the left by Foggo and then Stevie Wade left Quinton Francis in his wake with a run down the flank which resulted in a good cross which reached Johnny Boyles at the far post. But he sidefooted well over from an excellent position.

Minors went close again in the 75th minute with a shot that went inches past the far post after a smart build-up which was started by Philip Bailey. Soon after Minors limped off.

Vernon Eve got on the end of a wayward Andre Todd back pass inside the box in the 87th minute but he elected to try to put the ball on his left foot and wasted the chance to put Boulevard 3-1 in front, leaving them to hang on to a narrow win. Boulevard trio Warren, Leroy Stevens and Albert Caisey were all booked by Crockwell in the second half.

Boulevard: M.Steede; D.Boyles, L.Stevens, W.Richardson, A.Caisey; V.Eve, G.Smith, K.Darrell, J.Boyles, S.Wade, D.Warren.

St. George's: T.Hall; A.Todd, P.Bailey, Q.Francis, D.Bailey; M.Outerbridge, C.Smith, D.Richardson, D.Minors (D.Whitfield 78 mins), J.Laws, G.Foggo.

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.

Men of match: Wayne Richardson (Boulevard), Philip Bailey (St. George's).