PHC 1 Boulevard 0

In the end it was an unhappy day all round for Boulevard.

It started with coach Andrew Bascome's no-show and ended with a narrow defeat to a PHC side they had outplayed for most of the game.

Blenn Bean's goal ten mintues from time summed up Blazers' weekend. A scuffed cross from subsitute Quinton Burgess went behind defenders Aaron Nelson and Michael Parsons and fell to Bean, whose tame effort went through several sets of legs before narrowly squeezing between Randy Broadbelt's hand and the post.

The win took PHC on top, putting them a point ahead of Devonshire Cougars and two ahead of Boulevard. And while less than convincing, the manner of the win should serve as a warning to the rest of the league.

Kyle Lightbourne's side won ugly, they rode their luck, with Fabian Frankson clearing Chae Simmons shot off the line in the first half, and they came away with three points from a game they could easily have lost. Some might say it is the form of champions.

"I didn't think we played well today," said Lightbourne. "Boulevard first half bossed the game, they pushed us, they pushed us all the way.

"We were fortunate to be 0-0 at half-time, and second half I asked my guys really, to do a Man United today. I said to them 'we're not playing well, let's just stay in the game, let's not concede, let's be strong and we'll take something out of the game'.

"Boulevard played well today, they were the better team for the first half for sure, second half we bossed it a little bit more, both teams worked hard and we got the lucky break today.

"We had one of our defenders clear the ball off the line in the first half, and that's like scoring a goal, and that's part of the game. Our guys dug in today, our backs were up against the wall in the first half. Credit to Boulevard, but we got the lucky break and sometimes that happens.

"It's gone against us at times, but we kept a clean sheet, the first time in the league, and I'm pleased, and not a bad day's work."

From top of the table, Boulevard have slipped to third after successive defeats to Devonshire Cougars and PHC, but they are far from out of the title race, and have a young side with bags of talent.

When Blazers were on top, midfield duo Ajani Gibbons and Niko Smith were running PHC ragged, while Quadir Maynard gave Frankson a torrid time in defence. However, in the absence of Takeyhi Walker and Mel Gibbons they lack much of a threat up front, which made the decision to start Angelo Gibbons on the bench all the more confusing.

At the back they have the makings of a solid defensive unit with Aaron Nelson again impressing in the centre while Jahmah Samuels, although a little rough around the edges, looks at ease at this level.

The key, however, will be how they respond to this defeat, and the expected loss of Bascome. At times yesterday they appeared to run out of ideas, and with no apparent Plan B, struggled in the final third.

PHC, meanwhile, rumble on, not always pretty, not always convincing, but nevertheless effective. They face Dandy Town at St John's next weekend, and in this kind of form you wouldn't bet against them going into the Christmas break at the top of the table.

PHC: R.Glasford, C.Dowling, O.Shakir, R.Richardson, F.Frankson, B.Bean, J.Sealey, C.Furbert, J.Raynor (K.Lambe, 76 mins), C.Robinson (K.Mills, 88 mins), L.Holder (Q.Burgess, 68 mins). Subs not used: M.Lambe, W.Duval, J.Franklin, J.Smith.

Scorer: Bean 80

Boulevard: R.Broadbelt, M.Parsons, Nelson Smith, Jahmah Samuels, A.Nelson, A.Gibbons, C.Simmons, Niko Smith (A.Simmons, 58 mins), I.Coke, R.Burgess (D.Bascome, 68 mins), Q.Maynard (Q.Maynard, 75 mins). Subs not used: S.Furbert, M.Clamens, Jahmarley Samuels.

Yellow cards: Bean, Burgess (PHC); Nelson, Gibbons (Boulevard)

Referee: L, Raynor

Man of the match: B.Bean