Boulevard 1 Hamilton Parish 2

Mauriq Hill, the Hamilton Parish captain, grabbed a late winner to earn his team three vital points against Boulevard in a hard-fought Premier Division contest at Goose Gosling Field on Wednesday night.

The central defender powerfully headed home Jordan Outerbridge’s corner at the near post five minutes from full time.

Kion Knights had earlier given Parish an early lead before full back Daeshun Hendrickson pulled one back for Boulevard.

But just when it seemed as if both teams would have to settle for a share the spoils, Hill popped up with the winner.

Sergio Goater, the Parish coach, was delighted to come away with the points but conceded his team was not up to par.

“We made it hard for ourselves and it was not a good performance,” he said. “But with the position we are in we need the three points, so that’s all that matters.”

At one stage, Goater doubted his team would come away victorious as Boulevard mounted waves of attacks.

“Boulevard are a hungry team and they are going to keep coming so it was getting a bit sticky and looking like a draw, but our captain stepped up to give us the three points,” he added.

“That header was a great finish. You have to be brave with a near-post header like that and we had to get the three points. That’s all that matters.”

Parish moved above champions Dandy Town into fifth in the standings while Boulevard remain in the relegation zone in ninth place.

Parish got off to a dream start when Knights scored in the first minute of the match from close range after taking a touch to Che Lindo’s short pass in the area.

Boulevard got behind Parish’s defence with ease but were unable to convert their opportunities.

Still they pressed on and were finally rewarded right on the hour mark when Hendrickson prodded in Kamali Davis’s cross from the right side from close range.

Both teams continued creating chances with Boulevard goalkeeper Azir Harvey and opposite number Nigel Burgess producing a string of saves.

Parish substitute Shayne Hollis had a goal waved offside while team-mate Lindo fired a rebound into the side netting from a slight angle in the box.

However, Boulevard would not be as fortunate moments later as Hill left his marker in his wake and beat Harvey for pace with a well-directed glancing header to finally settle an entertaining affair.

SCORERS

Boulevard: Hendrickson 60

Hamilton Parish: Knights 1, Hill 85

TEAMS

Boulevard (4-1-4-1): A Harvey 7 - A Johnston 7, J Bailey 7, A Williams - Smith 7, D Hendrickson 7 - J Samuels 7 - T Walker 7, S Woolridge 7, O Wilson 6 (sub: Q Maynard, 56min 6), C Darrell 6 (sub: T Taylor, 69 7)- K Davis 7. Substitutes not used: A Famous, A Matthews. Booked: Woolridge.

Hamilton Parish (4-1-4-1): N Burgess 7 - J Bean 7, M Hill 7, Q Outerbridge 7, M Turner 6 (sub: K Wade, 66 6) - A Nelson 7 - S McKittrick 6 (sub: S Hollis, 64 7), J Outerbridge 7, K Richardson 7, K Knights 7 - C Lindo 7 (sub: E Furbert, 78) Substitutes not used: J Costa, J Small, C Castle, P Tohill. Booked: Hill.

Referee: G Swainson.

In the First Division last night, Devonshire Colts beat bottom side Somerset Eagles 5-0 to leapfrog Southampton Rangers into fifth place.