Boulevard 1, PHC 2
the St. David's Oval when they scored two goals in the last eight minutes to snatch the win and two valuable points.
PHC veteran Sammy Swan laid on the equaliser late in the match and was on hand one minute from the final whistle to poke home the winner in this hard-fought match.
All expectations before this game were that the Blazers would blow away the Zebras with their fluid style of play. But this was not to be the case as the Zebras never deviated from their usual long-ball play and forced the home team to back-paddle right from the opening whistle.
Only two minutes into the match Otis Steede connected with a dipping shot that sailed inches high of the Boulevard crossbar.
Their best chance for the half came only seconds later when Kenny Mills darted down the left flank and cut towards goal at the right moment. His shot from an acute angle beat goalkeeper Lynn Tucker, but deflected off the far post and away from the goal.
Boulevard's usual crisp, short passing game effectively gave them domination of the midfield, but as has so often been their problem this season, they could not convert this domination into goals. Dwight Warren was constantly threatening with darting runs at the Zebras' goal, but his long range shots never created a problem for Ty Williams in the PHC goal.
Williams, in fact, had a very steady game, which made Boulevard's lone goal midway through the first half even more unbelievable. Kenny Hill met a cross from the right wing with a weak header that looked to be bouncing harmlessly to the corner of the goal. Williams appeared well in control of the situation but his whole team were shocked to see the ball bounce totally unchallenged into the back of the goal.
The Zebras came into the second half with renewed vigour, pushing Meshach Wade into a more attacking role. This move almost paid dividends early when Wade unleashed a vicious shot from close that forced Tucker to go full length to push the ball around the post. While Boulevard, for the most part, controlled the tempo of play, it was the Zebras who created the goalscoring chances.
In the 82nd minute, Swan lifted a delicate freekick into the heart of the Blazers' penalty area. Substitute Dave Wolffe flicked the ball on to Wade who nodded it home from close for the equalizer. Then in the dying minutes, when a draw seemed the most likely result, Swan managed to sneak between the Boulevard defence to poke the ball under Tucker for the much needed win.
Boulevard: L.Tucker; A.Caisey, G.Smith, W.Richardson, A.Brown; C.Pearman, C.Caisey, N.Robinson (H.Bascome 72min); D.Warren, D.Boyles, K.Hill.
PHC: T.Williams; N.Simons (S.Trott 45min), B.Bean, M.Dill, B.Simons; O.Steede, M.Wade, S.Ming; M.Smith (D.Wolffe 59 min), S.Swan, K.Mills.
Referee: Roddy Burchall.
Men of the Match: Dwight Warren (Boulevard), Kenny Mills (PHC).