Boulevard learned a very cruel lesson last night at the Den . . . never leave the Cougars' cage unlocked!

After taking a surprise lead against the run of play through veteran Dwight (Payback) Warren's free-kick just outside the 18 yard box in the 73rd minute, Blazers appeared destined for a trip to a first major cup final since 1997-98.

But they were in for a rude awakening as Cougars again demonstrated their awesome ability to turn a match on its head without warning.

Eight minutes after Warren had upset the apple cart with his right-footed effort, Cougars ? who earlier had plenty of chances to afford themselves a comfortable lead heading down the final stretch ? blew this Friendship Trophy semi-final wide open when an unmarked Domico Coddington rammed Raymond (Packy) Beach's short pass home from an acute angle in the 83rd minute.

The impressive crowd that flocked to see these two urban rivals slug it out were kept on edge during the final seven minutes as both clubs went in search of the winner ? a goal Blazers nearly notched in the 89th minute when teenager Angelo Simmons lobbed over with only Ricardo Brangman between the sticks to beat.

That miss would signal the end for Blazers, who for the most part of the night chased their opponents all around the pitch, as Heys Wolfe finally buried the hatchet with a humdinger from close range in the first minute of stoppage time to send his team's die-hard and drum-weary supporters over the edge and his team mates through to a sixth cup final appearance in four seasons.

However, had the big cats converted dominance into goals, then this cup tie might have long been over way before the fat lady began to flex her vocal chords.

But wayward passing, soft finishing and the crossbar denied Cougars from seizing the early initiative and it would take an eight-minute two-goal blitz at the death to finally floor a Blazers side that played anything but a team coming off a lengthy rest.

The opening stages of this match proved to be a midfield tussle between the two ? a battle Cougars gradually won resulting in their opponents being pegged back for long spells.

The closest the big cats came to breaking the ice in the first half was when Coddington let rip with a missile that seemed to stun Blazers 'keeper Shejuan (Shabba) Swan as it crashed on to the underside of the bar before being cleared away.

Beach, young Chris Caisey and Darius Cox would also test Swan ? but with little luck.

At the opposite end, Raymond Burgess had a rasping shot tipped over by Brangman who also did well to push a Michael Parson's dangerous inswinging corner around the post during two of Blazers better forays in attack before the break.

When play restarted, a Wolfe drive from 25 yards that crashed on to the upright just might have been an ominous sign of far worse things to come for the men in black ? at the other end young Simmons might have begged to differ as he received a golden opportunity to put his team ahead.

Coming into possession deep in Cougars terrain, Simmons was given a good look at goal. However, hesitation to pull the trigger would prove his undoing as Brangman raced off his line to narrow the angle just before his defence recovered to snuff out the danger.

Then Warren gave Cougars a kindly reminder why is considered as a "big day" man when he drilled a low shot through a porous wall into the bottom right hand corner to give his team a shock lead.

It only proved, however, to be a brief trip to fantasy island as the hard running of Coddington and Wolfe finally paid dividends ? when it mattered most.

: R.Brangman, S.Smith, D.Cox, J.Simmons, R.Swan (K.Goddard, 79), J.Butterfield, D.Coddington, K.Steede (capt), C.Caisey (A.Zuill, 58), H.Wolfe, R.Beach.: S.Swan, R.Wilson, Jahmarley Samuels, S.Lewis, T.Trott, M.Gibbons (capt), Jahmah Samuels, D.Warren, M.Parsons, R.Burgess (Jah Samuels), A.Simmons.: J.Simmons (Cougars); R.Burgess (Boulevard): H.Wolfe/D.Coddington (Cougars); D.Warren (Boulevard): Granville Bennett

l Ireland Rangers defeated Prospect 3-1 in the night's Shield curtain-raiser.

Sean Brangman gave the Division One leaders the lead before Jerome Laws equalised just after the break.

But goals from Curtis Grant and Shakir Smith sealed victory for Rangers and earned them a place in the Division One Shield Final.