Hamilton Parish 1 Boulevard 2

Takehyi Walker bagged a brace as Boulevard make hard work of this Friendship Trophy win at BAA Field last night.

Andrew Bascome's side had more than enough chances to put this game well out of their opponents reach before substitute Dejovne Simmons' late goal gave Blazers some anxious last moments.

Even then Blazers might have won by a greater margain, with Aaron Nelson and Chae Simmons both missing sitters in the dying moments of the game. A goal would have been just reward for Nelson who performed admirably in a Boulevard defence shorn of three first team players.

But Bascome has a reputation for developing young talent, and the young members of his squad that stepped up for this game rarely looked out of place. The only weak link in the whole equation was goalkeeper Shejuan Swan who seemed ill at ease with the task given to him.

Fortunately for Blazers, Parish were little threat upfront, with the always reliable Ajani Gibbons, and Nelson Smith, dominant in the centre of defence.

In fact the only question last night was when, not if, Boulevard would score, and in the end it took just 13 minutes for them to break the deadlock. Quadir Maynard got free down the left, his fine cross was met by Walker who headed the ball straight at Nigel Burgess in the Parish goal, and was then first to the rebound.

That should have opened the floodgates, but Melchisedec Gibbons, Chae Simmons and Walker all missed easy chances to put their side further ahead.

It was the same story after the break, with Parish defender Jahki Outerbridge heading a Niko Smith effort off his own goalline to keep his team in it. The pressure finally told though, and Walker added a second, before limping off moments later following a heavy Ryan Evans challenge.

Parish gave the closing stages some bite when Dejovne Simmons neatly turned Nelson Smith on the edge of the box before firing the ball low past Swan, but the goal was never likely to be more than an irritant to Boulevard.

Bascome's side held on for the win, but it may have come at a price. Walker, Melchisedec Gibbons, and substitute Kiemo Bean all limped off in the second half, and are doubts ahead of the league game against Parish on Sunday.

Hamilton Parish: N.Burgess, J.Outerbridge, R.Richardson (T.Webb, 78mins), R.Smith, R.Somner, R.Trott, G.Walker (A.R. Ebbin, 84), R.Evans, C.Caisey, P.Richardson, J.Smith (D.Simmons, 68). Subs not used: K.Clarke, K.Simmons.

Scorer: D.Simmons 73.

Boulevard Blazers; S.Swan, D.Bell, N.Smith, A.Gibbons, A.Nelson, Q.Maynard, N.Smith, C.Simmons, D.Bascome, M.Gibbons (K.Bean, 62 (M.Parsons, 79)), T.Walker (R.Burgess, 75). Subs not used: M.Clamens, T.Wilson.

Scorer: Walker 13, 69.

Yellow cards: Richardson, Somner, Evans (Parish).

Referee: A Mouchette

Man of the match: Nelson (Boulevard)