Boulevard Blazers 2 Somerset Trojans 1

Captain Ernest Reiko Trott kept his cool from the penalty spot as Boulevard Blazers came from behind to beat Somerset Trojans 2-1 in the First Division Shield final at Somerset Cricket Club on New Year’s Day.

Boulevard fell behind early when Kee-Zai Cann gave Trojans a fantastic start to the game when finding the net in just the seventh minute.

Keedai Astwood equalised in the 32nd minute to ensure the teams went in level at half-time and the game was settled after an hour when Reiko Trott remained calm under pressure to secure the trophy for Boulevard.

“Somerset came out firing,” Trott said. “We came out a bit sloppy and I told the team to settle down and play.

“After the shaky opening, we did well but I found myself doing a lot of defensive work later. The team knew what it took to hold on, and they executed.”

Trojans, roared on by an enthusiastic home support, started on the front foot and penned Blazers into their own half for the majority of the first 45 minutes.

This attacking intent forced Boulevard into numerous turnovers between the centre circle and their own penalty area, allowing Trojans to dictate the tempo.

Somerset got their just reward inside ten minutes from a dangerous corner by Jaellan Greaves. The attacker whipped the ball in from the right and Kee-Zai Cann timed his run perfectly to head home at the back post without challenge.

Trojans continued on the offensive with Greaves and captain Jaden Ratteray-Smith chief triggers for their high press and their defence stepped up to the halfway line to ensure their opponents had no space to play through them.

However, Somerset could not gain the two-goal cushion their attacking approach warranted as a combination of decent defence and strong goalkeeping by Boulevard keeper Deaz Chambers kept them at bay before Boulevard equalised against the run of play on 32 minutes.

Kenfari Swan whipped in a corner, which Somerset struggled to clear, before Keedai Astwood, a former Somerset Eagles defender, tapped home from close range to punish the indecision by Trojans’ defence.

Boulevard must have taken pride in their resilience at half-time and they came out rejuvenated to control the early stages of the second half.

Somerset tried to regain the advantage but lapses in concentration cost them and Blazers were able to break on the counter on several occasions.

Astwood could have had another goal but misjudged his effort from the edge of the penalty area before the decisive moment arrived after an hour.

A header towards goal by Darius Cox was deflected off the hand of Trojans centre back Taj-Rae Outerbridge after Swan had curled in a free-kick from about 20 yards, with referee Kentoine Jennings awarding a penalty.

Reiko Trott sent goalkeeper Kyjuan Simons the wrong way from the spot to give them the lead their control deserved. After taking the lead, Blazers brought on some defensive reinforcements, as Somerset introduced top scorer Tahj Wade, which nearly paid off in the closing stages.

Paris Robinson picked out a beautiful ball, which Wade got under control, but he smashed his effort wide from a tight angle. Cann also could have equalised for a tired Trojans, but Blazers goalkeeper Chambers tipped his powerful effort around the far post to preserve the lead.

SCORERS

Boulevard Blazers: Astwood 32, Trott 60 pen

Somerset Trojans: Cann 7

TEAMS

Boulevard Blazers (4-2-3-1): D Chambers 7 – K Astwood 6, A Famous 6, D Cox 7 (sub: K Wint, 84min), Z Stovell 6 (sub: A Williams-Smith, 71) – I Mallory 6 (sub: K McQueen, 71), N Smith 6 (sub: K Easton, 80) – K Swan 7, E Trott 7, J Thomas 6 – D Walker 6. Substitutes not used: R Makal Burgess, R Grant, D Joell, Y Darrell, T Oswald Jr. Booked: Stovell.

Somerset Trojans (4-2-3-1): K Symonds 6 – Kameron McNeil 6 (sub: J Brangman, 84), T Outerbridge 5, M Tear-Deleon 6, E Shakir 5 (sub: T Wade, 71) – J Greaves 6, P Robinson 5 – K Cann 6 (sub: E Mendes, 71), J Ratteray-Smith 6, J Shields 6 (sub: J Simmons, 87) – Kymani McNeil 6. Substitutes not used: N Edwards, K Bean, J Powell, C Durham, I Francis. Booked: Outerbridge, Robinson.

Referee: K Jennings.

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