X-Roads Warriors 2 Boulevard 1

Donovan Thompson grabbed a stoppage-time winner to secure the points for ten-men X-Roads Warriors at Lords on Sunday.

With the game hanging in the balance, the experienced striker capitalised on poor defending three minutes into added time to redeem himself after an earlier penalty miss and earn his side three vital points as they edge clear of the relegation zone.

“I missed the penalty so that hurt me deeply,” Thompson said. “But I could not let that one slide and had to get a goal back by any means necessary.”

X-Roads were reduced to ten men in the 75th minute when playmaker Ajai Daniels lost his cool and was shown a straight red card for shoving experienced Boulevard striker Ian Coke.

Blazers capitalised on their numerical advantage ten minutes later when forward Kamali Davis brilliantly finished off a counter attack down the left side to cancel out Jamon Lottimore’s 69th minute strike for X-Roads before Thompson won the game late.

“I was not really worried going a man down because I knew we would not give up,” the 28-year-old added. “Regardless of the situation we fight no matter what and just keep pushing.”

The hard-fought victory leaves X-Roads seventh in the Premier Division, seven points above the relegation zone. Boulevard remain second bottom.

“This win puts us in a good position but I don’t want us to become complacent,” Thompson said. “I just want us to keep grinding out points and try to place as high as we can in the league.”

X-Roads came out swinging and peppered Boulevard’s goal in search of an early breakthrough.

Midfielder Ajai Daniels released Lottimore down the left side but Boulevard custodian DeAz Chambers rushed off his line to narrow the angle and block his attempt.

Kahmori Brangman then intercepted Niko Smith’s wayward pass just outside of the box but curled his shot over the bar and Smith redeemed himself moments later when he cleared Brangman’s dangerous cross right in front of goal, with Thompson connecting with a scissors kick at the back post from the ensuing corner which sailed just over.

X-Roads were awarded a penalty when Boulevard central defender Antione Famous brought Thompson down in the area, but Chambers was equal to the task as he dove to his left to push Thompson’s effort around the post.

Boulevard were kept on the back foot for most of the opening half but nearly took the lead against the run of play just before the interval when midfielder Clay Darrell brought off a fine save from Jamin Furbert at the near post.

Blazers applied early pressure at the start of the second half and were nearly gifted a goal when Wilson’s attempted clearance glanced off his head and was saved by Furbert.

Lottimore produced another save from Chambers before finally making the breakthrough after connecting with Tymon Daniels’ free kick at the back post.

The game took another turn when Ajai Daniels, who up until that point was having a solid outing, was sent for an early shower and it was game on when Davis took a touch to Sergio Woolridge’s pass on the left side of the box and curled a right-footed shot into the top corner.

Lottimore and Thompson both squandered glorious opportunities to restore X-Roads’ lead as the game opened up down the final stretch and just when it seemed as if both teams would have to settle for a share of the spoils, Thompson popped up with the winner after Boulevard failed to negotiate Daniels’ probing pass.

SCORERS

X-Roads: Lottimore 69, Thompson 90+3

Boulevard: Davis 85

TEAMS

X-Roads (4-4-2): J Furbert 7 – R Beek 5 (sub: D Simons, 46min 7), T Daniels 7, L Simmons 7, N Smith 7- C Brangman 7, K Brangman 7, A Daniels 7, J Lottimore 7 – D Thompson 7, A Wilson 7 (sub: D Woolridge, 70 5). Substitutes not used: J Morgan, Z McCarter, E Mensah. Sent off: A Daniels.

Boulevard (4-4-2): D Chambers 8 – Z Stovell 6, K Easton 7, A Famous 8, O Wilson 6 – N Smith 7 (sub: A Matthews 90), J Samuels 7 (sub: G Liburd, 86), S Woolridge 7, K Davis 7 – C Darrell 7, I Coke 6. Booked: Coke, Darrell.

Referee: D Jackson.