Boulevard 9

Somerset Eagles 1

Boulevard clinched the First Division title after an emphatic victory over Somerset Eagles at White Hill Field yesterday as top scorers Ian Coke and Tiae-Vince Douglas both netted hat-tricks.

Boulevard only needed a draw to make certain of promotion but the goals began to flow after they finally broke the deadlock in the nineteenth minute through the first of Dunn-Ya Taylor’s two goals, his low shot slipping out of goalkeeper Gladwin Lambert’s clutches before rolling over the line.

Boulevard then struck five goals in a 24-minute period to end the half 6-0 up and promotion all wrapped up.

Eagles, who failed to field a team against BAA Wanderers the previous weekend, were putting up a good fight but their heads began to drop as the goals went in despite their best efforts defensively.

Taylor added his second four minutes after the first with a cool finish, rounding the goalkeeper to score.

Douglas then helped himself to two quick goals in the 31st and 35th minutes and at 4-0 up the Boulevard fans were in a joyous mood. Douglas scored his first after seizing on a defensive error to tuck his left-footed shot past Lambert. He then converted a cross from the right which the goalkeeper parried into his path before Douglas netted at the far post.

Two more goals went in before the interval as Boulevard finished the half in style, with Aldonte Smith calmly scoring from the penalty spot after a foul and then Douglas completed his hat-trick after Lambert dropped the ball. It was the seventeenth goal of the season for Douglas, but astonishingly top scorer Coke was still on 19 goals for the season.

Boulevard had the luxury of making a double-substitution for the start of the second half with player-coach Aaron Williams taking himself off to be replaced by Teron Butterfield while Sanjay Fostin came on for Taylor. Williams later revealed that it was his last appearance as a player and also that he would be stepping down as coach.

“I’m starting my own business pretty soon so I have to focus my energy on that,” he said. “Hopefully we can find somebody to carry the reins for us. Now that we’re in the Premier Division, we have to stay there.”

For Boulevard it has been a three-year wait to get back into the top flight, and Williams is thrilled to have played his part as a player and coach. “I’m so excited, I couldn’t wait for this,” said Williams as noise of celebration rang out in the background, moments after the trophy was presented by Larry Mussenden, the Bermuda Football Association president.

“I believed we would get the goals. With Ian, sometimes he starts off late but does a lot of work off the ball and I knew if he kept playing that it would come. He’s very unselfish, but to be honest he got his rewards today.

“It’s been a toss-up this season between him and Dunn-Ya who helps me a lot off the field with advice, support and encouragement.”

Coke finally opened his account in the 55th minute when he was picked out by Douglas inside the box before controlling the ball and driving his shot into the bottom corner.

Coke made it 8-0 in the 61st minute when he exchanged passes with Fostin and then curled his shot inside the far post. He completed his hat-trick in the 86th minute when he robbed Lambert, who was too casual with the ball outside the penalty area, and then raced into the box before scoring from a sharp angle.

The goal took Coke’s tally to 22 for the season and he could be forgiven to taking his shirt off in celebration, which earned him a booking from referee Ronue Cann.

Eagles were finally rewarded for their endeavour in the 89th minute when Khimo Harrison scored a consolation goal from the penalty spot.