Boulevard Blazers 7 Somerset Eagles 1

Captain Ernest Rieko Trott scored a hat-trick to lead a ruthless Boulevard into the Shield final with an emphatic victory over Somerset Eagles at Wellington Oval yesterday.

Blazers should have opened the scoring when Zico Stovell was found in space through the left channel, but Eagles goalkeeper and new recruit Ismail Ali made an excellent save to keep the powerful low strike out.

They opened the scoring in controversial circumstances, much to the chagrin of the visiting Somerset Bridge supporters.

Referee Ralshon Douglas called a penalty after Shaquille Dill was tackled by Kieron Richardson, despite Dill initiating the contact.

Trott cheekily stepped up and scored the penalty with a Panenka past Ali.

Eagles continued to struggle defensively and failed to string consecutive passes together in a dangerous area to penetrate the Blazers defence, although they equalised from a moment of magic.

Nathan Rego cut inside from the left wing and curled a beautiful strike over the body of Boulevard goalkeeper Deaz Chambers into the far corner.

Despite equalising, Eagles continued to struggle defensively despite both sides having a terrible day in possession amid windy conditions.

Blazers went ahead again within four minutes of being pegged back. Ijahmon Mallory picked out Jah-Zion Talbot Thomas in acres of space, and the winger was able to finish at the far post.

Captain Trott netted his second of the day and Blazers' third straight from kick-off as Keedai Astwood slipped him through. Eagles keeper Ismail Ali made another reflex save towards the end of the first stanza, keeping out Neiko Smith to hold the scoreline respectable at the break.

Eagles tried to alter their poor showing early in the second half, taking out K'Tori Butterfield for Cardel Henry in an attempt to introduce some extra skill and intricate football into their approach.

However, that change backfired moments later with Blazers' fourth, this time Doreiko Walker cutting back for Trott to complete his hat-trick.

Another substitution went negatively for Eagles, as they switched formation by replacing defender Marco Basden with Jamaican forward Rushaine Murphy for a more direct option.

However, the execution of everything Eagles tried was poor on a critical day, and they were not able to pivot their intentions successfully.

This lack of cohesion and chemistry allowed Blazers to freely express themselves in the final third whenever they had the chance, and three further goals came from that.

Keedai Astwood showed his former team how it is done with another beautiful assist. Walker finished off the chance with considerable confidence to make it five and heap further misery on Eagles.

Rego was the only consistent spark in the otherwise flat Eagles attack, and could have had another goal but dragged a low effort wide.

Kenyade McQueen, who came on early for the injured Shaquille Dill, got himself into the attacking fold with an assist for Talbot Thomas's second goal with 15 minutes remaining.

Kenfari Swan closed out the scoring eight minutes from time after a goalmouth scramble, putting a bow on a ruthless Boulevard performance.

SCORERS

Boulevard: Trott 20 pen, 38, 54; Talbot Thomas 37, 75; Walker 65; Swan 82

Somerset Eagles: Rego 33

TEAMS

Boulevard Blazers (4-2-3-1): D Chambers 5 – K Astwood 7, S Dill 5 (sub: K McQueen, 23 6), I Mallory 5 (sub: K Wint, 76), Z Stovell 6 – D Cox 6, N Smith 5 (sub: Y Darrell, 71) – D Walker 6 (sub: D Joell, 71), E Rieko Trott 8 (sub: R Grant, 71), K Swan 7 – J Talbot Thomas 7. Substitutes not used: A Williams-Smith, T Oswald Jr. Booked: Walker.

Somerset Eagles (4-2-3-1): I Ali 7 – M Basden 6 (sub: R Murphy, 59 5), K Richardson 5 (sub: J Rumley, 80), S Lightbourne 4, Q Watson 5 (sub: K Fray, 80) – S Lambert 6, E Fubler 5 – N Rego 7, Z Smith 6, K Butterfield 4 (sub: C Henry, 53 5) – M Robinson 5. Substitutes not used: K Swainson-Robinson, K Edwards-Butterfield, M Iris-Simmons. Booked: Watson.

Referee: R Douglas.