Paget Lions 2 Boulevard 2

Paget Lions and Boulevard could not be separated in a relegation battle at PHC Field yesterday in which both teams had a player sent off.

The match was originally scheduled to be played at Southampton Oval, however, it was moved because of a 24-hour police shutdown of Southampton Rangers Sports Club after a brawl the previous day left six men injured.

After a minute’s silence was observed in memory of late Boulevard goalkeeper George O’Brien, Ernest Trott gave the visiting side an early lead. Paget hit back through goals from Dion Stovell and Tahjae Welch to take a lead into the break.

The home side were reduced to ten-men early in the second-half when goalkeeper Ricardo Brangman was sent off immediately after Trott equalised with a penalty. Boulevard were unable to cash in on their numerical advantage, which was wiped out in the 89th minute after defender Niko Smith was shown straight red.

“I’m just happy to come away with a point,” Malcolm Hewey, the Boulevard coach, said. “This was probably one of our biggest games we’ve played all season because everyone knew what was at stake.”

Boulevard took an early lead after striker Ian Coke beat the offside trap and squared for Trott who swept in at the far post.

However, the visiting side’s lead was short-lived as Stovell grabbed an equaliser four minutes later.

The striker latched onto Chare Smith’s defence-splitting pass and, after drawing Deaz Chambers off his line, planted his shot home. Boulevard went close to regaining the lead when Coke’s bicycle kick struck the post.

Paget surged ahead when Stovell broke away down the left side and picked out Welch, who slammed into the roof of the net.

Paget suffered a setback early in the second half when they conceded a penalty and then had Brangman sent off.

Referee Tashun Simons pointed to the spot after Coke was fouled in the box.

Brangman was initially booked for dissent and then shown a straight red for foul and abusive language after Trott buried his spot kick.

Smith, who had a stellar game in defence, then lost his cool and was shown a straight red for violent conduct after kicking an opponent in an off-the-ball incident late on.

TEAMS

Paget Lions: R Brangman — D Frost, R Richardson, K Hill-Tuzo, J Carpenter, M Burch, N Carpenter (sub; A Bean, 73min), D Hart, C Smith, T Welch, D Stovell. Substitutes not used: W Bean, D Curtis, K Smith, S Richardson. Booked: Brangman, J Carpenter, Burch, Hill-Tuzo. Sent off: Brangman.

Boulevard: D Chambers — Z Stovell (sub: K Easton, 86), N Smith, J Crockwell, T Butterfield, D Taylor, T Williams (sub: A Famous, 71), E Trott, T Walker, C Darrell, I Coke. Substitutes not used: J Shakir. Booked: T Williams. Sent off: N Smith.

Referee: T Simons.