Boulevard's first league defeat since October 10 came at a price yesterday at Frog Lane field when they had national squad players Albert Caisey and Neil Robinson sent off.

Boulevard also lost the Coca-Cola First Division lead on goal difference to North Village, who won 3-1 at PHC. Dandy Town, 2-1 winners over struggling champions Somerset, and Colts are two points off the pace.

Colts had threatened an upset from the outset as they put Boulevard's makeshift defence under early pressure. The goals that were to decide the destination of the points came in the 14th and 23rd minutes, both from captain Ellington Weldon's boot.

And though Boulevard, with nine men for the last 19 minutes, denied Colts further goals they offered very little in the way of threats at the other end.

The deadlock could have been broken in either the sixth or eighth minutes when, first, Harrison Trott put a low shot just wide of the far post and then Weldon also shot wide from an acute angle.

Dean Boyles was the latest player to be missing from the Boulevard defence as Vernon Eve returned to play at right-back and Caisey moved into the middle to partner Kenny Darrell.

The goal that Colts threatened to score came through a move on the right side, which saw Ellington Weldon in possession. With the Boulevard defence allowing him space, Weldon moved towards goal before unleashing a right-foot shot from near the edge of the penalty area that smashed into the roof of the net.

Soon after, goalkeeper Lynn Tucker dived to his left to make a good save from Trott's glancing header as Colts kept on the pressure.

Despite being forced to replace the injured Keishon Smith in the 21st minute, Colts kept running at the visitors and two minutes later substitute Quincey Aberdeen had a hand in the second goal, which came in controversial circumstances.

Aberdeen's cross from the right was handled by Darrell. Referee Richard Knight initially allowed play to continue and then consulted linesman Lyndon Raynor whose flag had been raised. From the resulting penalty Weldon scored his ninth goal of the season.

After Darrell missed a high ball, which resulted in Trott lobbing an effort over the crossbar, Boulevard re-arranged to their defence with Herbie Bascome moving from midfield to sweeper for Darrell.

Caisey got his marching orders in the 40th minute for persistent misconduct after being blown down for a foul on Weldon and then kicking the ball away, which brought him a yellow card. When he refused to come to the referee after being repeatedly called, the red card came out.

Robinson, just back from injury, got his marching orders in the second half for persistent misconduct, having been booked in the first half for a foul on Mark Ray. Robinson faces further punishment after twice kicking the reserve ball onto the field and refusing to leave the playing area.

Devonshire Colts: A.Lightbourne; L.Hypolite, D.Wright, J.Samuels, D.Robinson; V.Ball, J.Bean, M.Ray; H.Trott (A.Zuill, 83 mins), K.Smith (Q.Aberdeen, 21 mins), E.Weldon.

Boulevard: L.Tucker; V.Eve, A.Caisey, K.Darrell, J.Boyles; H.Bascome, A.Brown (S.Smith, 54 mins), C.Caisey; D.Warren, K.Hill (N.Hull, 73 mins), N.Robinson.

Referee: Richard Knight.

Men of the match: Ellington Weldon (Devonshire Colts); Herbie Bascome Boulevard).

goals that knocked Boulevard out of first place yesterday.