Dandy Town 2 Boulvard 2

Dandy Town and Boulevard shared the points in a tense and exciting encounter at St Johns Field yesterday.

Boulevard, who have enjoyed a modicum of success in this season’s campaign, and champions Town, who have recently started the long climb back up the ladder, did not disappoint as both teams entertained.

With both teams offering timely defensive stops and trading frequent offensive raids on their opponents’ goal, it was Town who drew first blood, courtesy of a strike from Damon Ming.

Ming latched onto a pass 25 yards outside, dribbled across the box and uncorked a hard, low shot, which eluded outstretched Boulevard goalkeeper Deaz Chambers.

However, Ming’s effort held up for all of two minutes as Boulevard came roaring back with an opportunistic equaliser by Antoine Famous in the 29th minute. The ball ricocheted to Famous who wasted no time cooly slotting home.

It would be Boulevard who answered the call in the 40th minute. Awarded a free kick, Ijahmon Mallory stepped up and lofted the resulting set piece towards the far post which Niko Smith rose high over Town defence.

Smith’s header was palmed down by Daniels into the path of striker Ian Coke who tapped in from two yards.

In the 50th minute, Jahtino Richardson-Martin almost pulled Town level when a goal kick saw him outpace the Boulevard defence. With Boulevard’s goalkeeper advancing late off his line, Richardson-Martin managed to head the ball over the goalkeeper’s head. Unfortunately, his header did not have enough power and was cleared off the line.

Town were awarded a penalty in the 55th minute by referee Ronue Cann when Boulevard defender Jakio Williams handed in the area. Town striker Angelo Simmons planted his drive just inside the right upright.

Coke seemingly doubled his tally in the 70th minute to give Boulevard the lead.

But much to the raucous displeasure of the Boulevard faithful, the goal was disallowed because of offside.

SCORERS

Dandy Town

Ming 27, Simmons 55 pen

Boulevard

Famous 29, Coke 40

TEAMS

Dandy Town (4-3-3): A Daniels — T Manders, J Richardson-Martin (sub: D Butterfield, 80min), K Tucker — J Swan, D Bascome, T Goater (sub: E Blakendahl, 80), A Simmons — D Ming, K Davis (sub: K Lathan, 46min), S Darrell Substitutes not used: K Wade, J Amory, C Davis

Boulevard (4-4-2) D Chambers — I Coke, J Crockwell (sub: T Butterfield, 81), A Famous (sub: J Symonds, 55min), I Mallory — K Smith, N Smith (sub: J Bailey, 75), Z Stovell, D Taylor — T Walker, J Williams Substitutes not used: A Foggo, S Fostin, Y Darrell

Referee: R Cann