Boulevard 2

Devonshire Cougars 1<$>Premier Division leaders Boulevard brought Devonshire Cougars crashing to earth in a match that failed to live up to expectations at BAA Field yesterday.

Blazers found the back of the net twice during an evenly contested first half and then managed to hold Cougars at bay and defend their slim lead for the remainder of the match.

For Blazers it was payback for an October 11 Martonmere Cup Group B loss to their nearby rivals who suffered a first league loss of the season.

Boulevard converted twice against the run of play, did just enough to keep Cougars’ playmaker Domico Coddington under wraps and defended superbly.

‘Keeper Michael Higgs, who made a series of clutch saves late in the second half to protect his team’s one goal advantage, also proved to be Blazers’ saviour in the end.

Cougars, meanwhile, must have left the grounds kicking themselves for having dominated two thirds of the match, only to be repeatedly guilty of firing blanks in front of goal.

The Big Cats were the first to settle down in the early going, and with each attacking raid began homing in on the target.

Yet for all of their early dominance, it was Blazers who grabbed a surprise lead in the 20th minute with a goal really from out of nothing.

Midfielder Chae Simmons gained possession in Cougars’ own half and unchallenged darted off down the right flank before firing a wind-assisted, right-footed shot from an acute angle that somehow beat Ricardo Brangman at the near post.

The goal sprung life into Cougars who immediately responded with Domico Coddington having a goal at the opposite end disallowed.

But there would be no denying Cougars seconds later as striker Raymond Beach took advantage of some slack defending and beat Higgs to his right with a low drive to draw the teams level.

The goal, however, did little to dent Blazers’ confidence and ten minutes before the half they retook the lead through an opportunistic Raymond Burgess who rifled home a rebound off the upright from close range.

Cougars then had a good shout for a penalty fall on deaf ears after defender Cud Joe Matthews appeared to handle the ball in the box.

Blazers threatened to double their lead right on the halftime whistle, however Melchisedec Gibbons dragged a shot wide when well positioned at the top of the box with the wind at his back.

Both teams suffered setbacks after the break, Blazers losing defender Jahmah Samuels and Cougars forward Kor Von Tucker both to injury. Satisfied with their one-goal lead, Blazers opted to go defensive, putting numbers behind the ball and playing deep in their own half.

The tactic, though, nearly backfired as Cougars came close through the ever dangerous Beach who created space for himself inside the box. Coddington also squandered a golden opportunity, passing instead of shooting inside the area.

Cougars inserted big strikers Mark Steede and Shaki Minors on in hopes of adding punch up front. And both players had enough chances to at least grab a share of the spoils for their team.

But in Higgs, the Big Cats found stubborn resistance. The Blazers’ custodian leapt high to tip over a rasping Minors effort destined for goal and then covered the near post to turn another Beach effort around the post.

Determined to defend at all cost, Blazers did not get off a single shot on goal or force a corner in the second half which saw tempers momentarily boil over late as Cougars’ Steede and Blazers’ Jahmarley Samuels engaged in a bit of pushing and shoving.

Steede was subsequently booked while diminutive Boulevard substitute, Jahmari Samuels, was also carded for leaving the bench and running onto the pitch near the scene of the incident.

But once clearer heads prevailed, Blazers weathered the storm right to the end to keep their unbeaten league record intact — and open a two -point lead over Somerset Trojans at the top of the tables.

Boulevard<$>: M.Higgs, S.Lewis, Jahmah Samuels (C.Hayward, 50 mins), J.Samuels, C.Matthews, J.Payne, C.Simmons, C.Trott, M.Gibbons, S.Crockwell (capt), R.Burgess (T.Walker, 73 mins).

Devonshire Cougars<$>: R.Brangman, K.Bean, O.Butterfield, J.DeShields, D.Cox, K.Steede (capt), M.Smith (M.Steede, 73 mins), D.Coddington, C.Caisey jr, R.Beach, K.Tucker (S.Minors, 48 mins).

Yellow cards<$>: C.Matthews, sub Jahmari Samuels (Boulevard); M.Steede (Cougars).

Men of the match<$>: M.Higgs (Boulevard); O.Butterfield (Cougars)

Referee: George O’Brien.