Boulevard 1 BAA 4

BAA got back to winning ways with a convincing victory over Boulevard at Lord’s yesterday.

Tied at 1-1 at the break, the visiting side scored three goals during the second half to put the game beyond reach and enhance their chances of survival in their first season back in the top flight.

Boulevard were playing their first match since their goalkeeper Ronniko Burchall was shot dead last month. The team’s game against PHC Zebras last weekend was postponed at Boulevard’s request.

Andrew Bascome, the BAA coach, said of his team’s win: “That’s my objective: to stay up in the Premier Division, create a good environment and have a positive impact on football in Bermuda. It was a good bounce back from last week [a defeat to Dandy Town].”

Boulevard were left to rue a plethora of missed chances, particularly during the first half when they dominated possession.

“I thought Boulevard played well but as long as you play in front of them you keep them in the game,” Bascome added.

“You have to try and make runs in behind to see how well they track, which is a whole different level of discipline.”

Bascome made a double substitution in the 55th minute to bolster his team’s midfield, which ultimately paid dividends as the visiting side opened the floodgates and pulled away.

“I had to make the two early subs because we were failing in midfield a bit,” Bascome said.

“I said, ‘Let me make my move early’ and did two at once and it paid off.”

Boulevard came charging out of the blocks from kick off and bombarded BAA’s goal as they sought an early breakthrough.

Forward Clay Darrell volleyed over while striker Ian Coke had a snap shot saved by BAA goalkeeper Andrew McDowell, one of two changes Bascome was forced to make to his starting line-up from the previous outing against Town.

BAA took the lead against the run of play when forward Nathan Rego converted from a counterattack.

Drewonde Bascome slipped a pass into open space behind the defence which Rego latched onto and slotted past Boulevard goalkeeper Jahhi Shakir.

However, the goal did little to rattle Boulevard’s confidence as they quickly regrouped and applied more pressure in search of an equaliser.

Takeyhi Walker had a shot saved, Darrell headed just over from a corner while Niko Smith fired into the side-netting after receiving a short pass inside the box.

Keishen Bean nearly doubled BAA’s advantage when he lobed over from outside of the box before the goal Boulevard’s dominance warranted arrived shortly before the interval, with Coke finding the net with a shot into the near post.

However, the home side were forced to chase the game again early in the second half when Bean converted from the penalty spot after Rego was brought down by defender Jahleel Crockwell. The contest was virtually over when BAA substitute Jibri Salaam made it 3-1 on the hour mark.

Boulevard blew a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit when Darrell wasted a chance after being played through by Coke.

It proved to be costly as BAA midfielder Troy Tucker drilled home to give his team even more breathing room.

There was still time for BAA to mount another attack but on this occasion Bean was denied by the woodwork.

SCORERS

Boulevard:: Coke 42

BAA: Rego 18, Bean 49 pen, Salaam 60, Tucker 71

TEAMS

Boulevard: (4-4-2): J Shakir — T Butterfield, J Williams, J Crockwell, A Foggo (sub: Z Stovell, 82min) — E Trott, N Smith, T Walker, C Darrell (sub: A Famous, 78) — T Williams (sub: A Smith, 60), I Coke. Substitutes not used: D Taylor, Y Darrell. Booked: Darrell, Famous.

BAA: (4-3-3): A McDowell — A Butterfield, T Burgess, Q Lema, N Gibbons — I Simmons (sub: L Roberts, 55) — M Hardtman (sub: J Salaam, 55), T Tucker (sub: R Murphy, 77) — D Bascome, N Rego, K Bean. Substitutes not used: A Carvelho, K McQueen, Z Robinson.

Referee: L Christopher.