X-Roads 0 Boulevard 4

Two goals either side of half-time were enough to give Boulevard a deserved victory over X-Roads at Garrison Field yesterday.

Shane Powell, the Boulevard coach, attributed his team’s encouraging six points from three games to team spirit.

“Right now, our focus is team unity and we try to do as much as we can together to build that strength as a unit,” he said.

There was very little in the first half aside from the two goals, both scored by Aldonte Smith. The first came from a defensive mistake by the X-Roads defender, who was dispossessed in his own half, leaving the winger to walk in on the goalkeeper unchallenged.

Smith’s initial shot was partially saved, but he was able to scramble the ball over the line among a maze of players on the follow-up.

The scrappy nature of the goal mirrored the quality of play on a day when both teams seemed to struggle in possession.

Smith’s second goal came five minutes before the half as he was able to finish a quick counter-attack with a simple header at the back post from a Kamali Davis cross.

The game seemed to open up a bit after the interval, but Boulevard always had the upper hand.

Within ten minutes of the restart they had sealed the game when Davis, who put in a good shift in the middle of the park, found space inside the box to get off a low shot. The goalkeeper was only able to parry the ball into the path of the onrushing TaeVince Douglas, who made no mistake with the rebound.

Jarzadae Samuels, who had come on early in the first half for the injured Niko Smith, rounded out the scoring in the 82nd minute with a low drive from 12 yards when X-Roads were unable to clear their lines.

“Having lost our top striker from last season [Ian Coke], it’s encouraging to see the team step up and still score goals and get results,” Powell added. “It’s been a real team effort.”

Life in the top flight has not been as promising for their home side, who have now suffered three consecutive home defeats, with 11 goals conceded and none scored.

Farid El Karfa, the team’s head coach, is under no illusions as to the situation that he and his troops find themselves in.

“The transition from the First to the Premier Division has not been a very smooth one. We are improving in some areas but we still have a lot to work on.”

GOALS

Boulevard

Smith 18, 40 Douglas 56 Samuels 82

TEAMS

X-Roads: D Cooper — A Burgess, J Furbert, K Wilkinson, P Parsons, J Sousa (sub: Rico Beek, 75min), T Daniels, K Brangman, F Pacheco(sub: A Butterfield, 46), A Heylinger (sub: D Baker 60),

K Davis-Jones. Substitutes not used: T Lowe, E Robinson, T Lowe, N Johnson.

Boulevard: R Burchall — J Williams, A Foggo, Z Stovell, T Butterfield, D Taylor, Niko Smith (sub: J Samuels, 65), K Davis, K Easton, A Smith (sub: O Cox, 68), T Douglas (sub: R Tyrell, 68). Booked: D Taylor.

Referee: A Bailey.