Boulevard, the FA Cup winners six seasons ago, advanced to the first round of the competition yesterday with victory over X-Roads at Police Field.

Boulevard mastered the conditions better in a match that started in bright sunshine but endured a heavy downpour late in the first half. Midway through the second half conditions had deteriorated so much it was doubtful the game would even finish.

The home team took the lead in the 20th minute when left back Zico Stovell sent a cross into the six-yard box for Aaron Foggo to head home after Akil Trott had failed to collect the cross.

Minutes later Ian Coke put a shot against the crossbar from outside the box after spotting Trott off his line. Crosses were causing the X-Roads goalkeeper problems and another delivery by Stovell in the 37th minute was missed by Trott, with defender Akiri Trott deflecting it into his own goal as he tried to clear the danger.

X-Roads offered a quick response, equalising two minutes later when captain Kijuan Wilkinson headed home from close range after a corner. Poor defending resulted in the ball being touched at least four times inside the box without being cleared.

However, the X-Roads defence was penetrated again two minutes before the break to allow Boulevard, the unbeaten First Division leaders, to restore their two-goal cushion. This time Dunn-ya Taylor beat the advancing Trott from close range for his sixth goal of the season.

X-Roads enjoyed a good spell early in the second half before Boulevard broke through to score their fourth — and probably best — goal.

In now slippery conditions, defender Jakio Williams met a cross from the left that stopped in front of him in a puddle before driving it into the far-bottom corner.

X-Roads hit the woodwork when Akiri Trott’s cross from the left came back off the far post after beating the goalkeeper. The visiting side were rewarded, however, for their endeavour by scoring a second goal in the first minute of injury time when Tristan Daniels slipped through to convert after a mix-up in the Boulevard defence.

Two Boulevard’s defenders, Stovell and Jakio Williams, were involved in a heated exchange over the goal as teammates tried to calm the pair down, with Stovell booked for leaving the field without permission as the incident continued after the final whistle.

Boulevard, who last won the FA Cup in 2009 when they beat Dandy Town 5-3 in the final, are unbeaten in five games this season.

n The second match scheduled for Police Field between Devonshire Colts and Somerset Eagles was postponed by the officials because of the condition of the field. The match was called minutes before the scheduled start with both teams already on the field warming up.

The other matches between BAA and B&V United, and Wolves and Paget were also called off because of the weather.

The other preliminary round match between Young Men’s Social Club and Tuff Dogs will take place tonight at Devonshire Recreation Club at 8pm, having been rearranged last week.