Brawl mars Boulevard win
Boulevard's victory over Somerset in last night's replayed First Division fixture took them level on points with leaders Vasco -- but an exciting game was marred when fighting broke out between rival fans minutes from the end.
Police were called to the ground after around 60 spectators spilled over the perimeter fence and became involved in a mass brawl with only three minutes remaining on the clock. A constable was stabbed in the incident.
Earlier it was the action on the pitch which had caught the eye in a fixture abandoned after 75 minutes on Saturday because of floodlight failure with the game still goalless.
Boulevard took the lead after 23 minutes of last night' match which, until that point, had been notable only for its misplaced passes and panicky shooting.
And what a superbly executed piece of finishing it was.
There seemed little danger as Albert Caisey floated a cross from deep on the left towards the edge of the Trojans area. But Neil Robinson was given a touch too much time and space and he lined up a volley which whistled past Winslow Williams in the Trojans goal.
Moments later the home side were almost back on level terms. Andrew Rahman broke free on the right touchline and whipped over a good cross which was met by Lamaul Crofton, but his header was tipped over by Andre Hendrickson.
However, Trojans continued to up the pace and their pressure paid off five minutes from the interval when Rahman finished off an inspired move involving Jelani Scott and Rodre Wilson.
Trojans, with just one win in four before last night's defeat, should have added at least one more before the break, Hendrickson foiling Scott's over-the-shoulder effort from the edge of the box and the classy Sean Simmons narrowly failing to force the ball over the line from a corner.
But just when it seemed Somerset were in control, Boulevard knocked the stuffing out of them with their second, and the eventual winner, in stoppage time in the first half.
Trojans were caught napping on the right as Rodney Bascome helped a ball on to Leonard Hypolite. He turned inside and seemed surprised to find himself with time and space to side-foot wide of Williams.
Somerset prodded and probed after the break but failed to recapture their form of the first half and Stevie Wade almost added a third for Boulevard, a goal which would have taken them to the top of the division on goal difference.
Somerset Trojans: W.Williams, A.Burchall, S.Simmons, D.Woolridge, S.Riley, D.Rahman, A.Rahman, M.Brangman, J.Scott, L.Crofton, R.Wilson Boulevard: A.Hendrickson, L.Stevens, D.Charles, A.Caisey, D.Boyles, V.Eve, N.Robinson, L.Hypolite, R.Bascome (K.Hill 70 mins), D.Warren, S.Wade (O.Minors 86 mins) Referee: Esten Curtis Men of the match: Sean Simmons (Trojans); Neil Robinson (Boulevard)
