Boulevard 7 Robin Hood 2

Seven-up Boulevard ensured there would be no Merry Men at the Robin Hood after their FA Cup first round tie at BAA Field yesterday.

Melchisedec Gibbons and Shaki Crockwell bagged a pair each with the rest of the goals coming from Tekeyhi Walker, Michael Parsons and Chae Simmons. Derek Stapley and Paul McCluskey scored for Hood.

The end scoreline was emphatic, but Hood more than held their own in stages and could have had more than the two they did get.

However, although it was a mere 3-1 at the half, Boulevard's superior skill and stamina told in the end and they too should have added to their tally.

Taurianno Trott, a tireless runner for Premier Division Boulevard's cause, said his side had not taken their Commercial Division opponents lightly and had spoken in depth about the dangers they posed.

“One goal is not enough against a team like this,” said Trott alluding to Hood's run to the semi-final of the cup some years ago. “Years ago they had that good run and we could not play around. We had to come out in the second-half, pick up the intensity and come forward and put the chances away.”

Gibbons set them on their way in the 13th minute, firing home after a good lay-off from Simmons.

They doubled their lead nine minutes later when Walker, who showed some dazzling skill for someone of his build, reacted quickest to a spooned clearance, driving it low past Randy Darrell.

Just 60 seconds later Hood were back in the match when Stapley shot past Corban Durrant after good work by Dave Wolffe.

However, they could not turn the tide completely and Darrell had to pull off a wonderful flying save to deny Trott's header six minutes before the break.

In the 43rd minute Boulevard did get the third when Parsons poked home through Darrell's legs after an excellent cross from Stanton Lewis.

Hood refused to become dispirited, though, and three minutes into the second period Stapley should have narrowed the deficit. Chesting the ball down, he raced past the last defender, into the box and with the goal at his mercy took aim, fired and saw the ball slice off his boot and out for a goal kick.

Shortly after, there was a lengthy delay as Hood's David Kinnersley had to be lifted off the field after injuring his left leg.

With him out of commission, Hood began to lose their way and Gibbons made it 4-1 with a bicycle kick in the 62nd minute.

Two minutes later it was five when Walker hammered a thunderbolt against the far post and Simmons lashed home the rebound.

Hood's cause took another dent in the 77th minute when Colin McQueen was forced to retire through injury and, having used all three subs, the underdogs were forced to play with ten men.

Boulevard substitute Crockwell then made it six with a fine individual goal. Showing good thinking, he allowed the ball to bounce over a defender's head from throw-in, ran onto it, cut inside and then hit a low swerving shot beyond the keeper.

Hood proved they still had some fire in their belly when McCluskey took aim from all of 30 yards and beat Durrant all ends up for 6-2. But Boulevard continued their own assault and, with better finishing, Gibbons would have had a hat-trick and then some.

As captain, he could have kept the match ball had he insisted on taking a last-minute penalty. However, he didn't and allowed Crockwell, who had been felled, to pick himself up, dust himself off and make it seven.