Boulevard clinched their semi-final place in the Martonmere Cup with a hard-fought and ultimately convincing win over Somerset Trojans at PHC Stadium last night.

Always the better side, the Blazers joined St. George's Colts in the next round from Group A thanks to goals from Stevie Wade, Neil Robinson and substitute Vernon Eve.

Somerset found one equaliser through Jerry Webb, but never really looked like producing the two-goal victory needed to take them into the next phase.

The initial stages resembled dancers on hot coals more than a soccer match as neither side seemed interested in stringing passes together.

Still, the Blazers had what few early openings there were with Robinson and Dwight Warren just having the ball run away from them in the first 15 minutes.

Boulevard should have scored in the 26th minute but Robinson and Ross Lambe botched a two-on-one against defender Jermaine Burrows after a Webb giveaway.

The first shot on goal did not come until the 29th minute, Lambe's header easily saved.

Just when Somerset looked to have come into the game, with midfielder Andrew Rahman prominent, they slipped up.

First, Duane DeRoza almost let Wade in after a weak back pass to Hendrickson.

The 'keeper was forced into a double save as his clearance from Wade rebounded off DeRoza and back toward goal.

But there was nothing he could do to stop Wade in the 41st minute with his defence at sixes and sevens.

A quick ball out of the Boulevard midfield picked out Lambe free on the right and his early cross into the middle towards Warren forced Hendrickson off his line to intervene.

This time the rebound fell invitingly for Wade who found the empty net to his liking.

Somerset opened the second half with vigour and were rewarded in the 57th minute after a speedy Lamaul Crofton run on the right divided the Boulevard defence.

Striker Keion Simmons got the important touch to the cross, which sprang Webb to score past Mitchell Steede from close range.

This only served to spur Boulevard on and as legs tired they dominated with their superior ball skills.

The winner came in the 75th minute as Robinson scored over Hendrickson, who dived a fraction early, with a left-foot drive after sent clear on the left by Warren.

And five minutes later, Eve sealed it after a sumptuous move that saw Wade dash to save the ball on the bye-line, Warren cross it, Robinson head it and then the sub re-direct it into net as a stupefied Somerset defence watched.

A fine ending to a match that only fleetingly gave value for money.

Boulevard: M.Steede; A.Caisey, M.Trott, D.Boyles, L.Hypolite; N.Robinson, L.Stevens, G.Smith; D.Warren, R.Lambe (V.Eve, 72 mins), S.Wade.

Somerset Trojans: A.Hendrickson; E.Dean, J.Burrows, D.DeRoza, R.Scott; N.Webb, A.Rahman, D.Woolridge (M.Butterfield, 58 mins); C.Grant, K.Simmons, L.Crofton.

Men of the match: Dwight Warren (Boulevard); Andrew Rahman (Somerset Trojans).

Referee: Richard Knight.