Boulevard Blazers pulled out of the Friendship Trophy last night over fears for their players’ safety.Blazers were due to face Somerset Trojans this evening at Somerset Cricket Club, but rather than play have opted to withdraw from the competition altogether.The move comes after a weekend when the issue of gang violence again reared its head when shots were fired in Somerset and in Pembroke. Club president Dr Lou Matthews said last night’s decision had been made in the best interests of his players.“The Boulevard Community Club is committed to impacting the lives of young men and women through football,” said Dr Matthews. “We do this by emphasizing for our players: leadership, positive living and safety.“In light of the current issues that continue to disrupt our neighborhoods, we decided it was in the best interest of our players to not to play the Friendship game scheduled for Wednesday night. This was communicated to the BFA in writing.”While Boulevard have pulled out of the Friendship Trophy there has been no suggestion that they will withdraw from the Digicel Premier Division, which takes a break over Christmas.“We remain committed to our work in Central Pembroke as we have for the past 37 years,” said Dr Matthews. “We thank the BFA for it hard work in preparation for the tournament. We wish the Trojans the best.”Somerset will now play Dandy Town in the next round on Sunday after Town beat Southampton Rangers 4-2 in an entertaining encounter at BAA Field.Angelo Simmons bagged a hat-trick and Fabian Frankson also scored in a game that the Hornets should have won far more convincingly.Town flew out of the blocks from the off and with Damon Ming and Fabian Frankson terrorising the Rangers defence it took them less than 10 minutes to take the lead.Simmons got his side off the mark and the game looked over before it had really started. Frankson had a shot well saved at the near post by Sean Perinchief, Ming hit the crossbar, and Raymond Beach also went close.Such was the ease with which Town were pulling Rangers apart that they switched off, got sloppy, and it wasn’t until two minutes from the break that Simmons got his second, turning the ball in after Perinchief had again denied Ming.Still a two goal cushion should have been enough to see Town easily through to the next round, however their malaise continued after the break and Rangers stunned them with two goals in three minutes to draw level.Ijahmon Mallory got the first, taking advantage of some lax defending to power his side level, and Greg Johnson bagged the equalisier with a 25-yard rocket, less than a minute after coming on as a substitute.Having got his side back into the game, Mallory then had to keep them in it, clearing the ball off the line as Hornets were finally stung into action. Ming hit the underside of the crossbar for a second time, Beach shot straight at the keeper when clean through, and Town then blew a five on one overlap when Beach’s final pass found the only defender between Town and a third, and the move break down.Frankson finally eased his side’s nerves by putting them back in front, and Simmons completed his hat-trick with a neat finish to restore Town’s two-goal lead and send them through to the next round.Wolves 1X’Roads 2Khomeini Talbot scored the winner for X’Roads as they beat Wolves in their preliminary round clash in the Shield competition at Devonshire Rec last night.Talbot’s goal 20 minutes from time clinched a date in the next round after Vincent Minors jr cancelled out Andre Burgess’ opener.In a game that was level at the break, it was Burgess who headed home from a corner that bounced in the area in the 51st minute.Minors levelled two minutes later when he slotted home from close range, and It was left to Talbot to put his side in the next round.BAA 3Flanagans Onions 4There were three penalties, seven goals and one red card in a game that had it all as 10-man Flanagans came from behind to just hold on for victory at BAA Field.Willie Clemans gave BAA the lead from the penalty spot with only four minutes gone, and after Pete Robery had drawn the visiting side level, Clemans did it again in the 21 minute.That was the last time BAA were to have the lead though as Greg Simons struck twice in nine minutes to put Flanagans 3-2 up at the break.Keston Lewis extended that lead five minutes into the second half and although Vance Hill reduced the deficit, Flanagans held on, the last five minutes of which they were a man down following Nigel Forrester’s dismissal for a second bookable offence.