Boulevard centre back Donnie Charles' own goal handed PHC a lifeline yesterday in what had previously looked a forlorn battle against relegation from the Coca Cola First Division.

Charles succeeded where PHC's forwards had failed, diverting Blenn Bean's misdirected cross past his goalkeeper Andre Hendrickson in the 49th minute of the match at PHC Stadium.

Fortunate though the goal was, it was in truth no more than the home side deserved.

They dominated a first half in which only nervy finishing and the brilliance of Hendrickson denied them a hatful.

And in the last 20 minutes, when Boulevard woke up to the fact that their title aspirations were disappearing as rapidly as the late afternoon sunshine, they produced some spirited and at times desperate defending to preserve their advantage.

"I was proud of my team,'' PHC coach Cecil Robinson said afterwards. "They showed a lot of guts out there today.

"We've played really well in our last few games but we've been unlucky, we've not been able to put away our chances. But we got a bit of luck today with the own goal.

"The result creates a bit of confusion down at the bottom but we'll be going full out to try and stay up.'' What it does in fact is put his side within a point of second-from-bottom Hotels, who have a game in hand after Friday night's match against North Village was washed out, and just two behind Devonshire Cougars and Somerset, who both lost yesterday.

And with Hotels their next opponents on March 8 they might yet be spared the ignominy of playing Second Division football for the first time since 1980-81.

From the outset yesterday they played as if relegation wasn't an option, launching wave after wave of attack upon a Boulevard team which were slow out of the blocks.

As early as the third minute Stanton Lewis got his head to a cross from Stephen Astwood, deputising for late arrival Kenny Mills, but could not direct it on target.

And in the 11th minute he missed a glorious opportunity to put his side in front, beating Boulevard's offside trap but shooting straight at the goalkeeper when he had time and space to pick his spot.

Six minutes later, Hendrickson was called into action again, diving full length to deny Bean after the Lewises, Stanton and Christopher, had exchanged passes in the blink of an eye to set him up.

Then the Boulevard goalkeeper had to dip further into his repertoire of saves to deny Brian Anderson twice as the dreadlocked midfielder burst into the area with late runs, and Lewis again.

Four minutes after the break, though, he was finally beaten. Charles moved to stop Bean's mis-hit ball from the left edge of the box reaching Desmond Burgess on the far post but only succeeded in planting it past him.

Boulevard began to raise their game, giving Ellsworth Bean in the PHC goal the opportunity to show his ability. First, he tipped a looping cross from Neil Robinson over the bar and then moved swiftly to narrow the angle when Herbie Bascome's subtle touch put Robinson, again, in on goal.

Kenny Mills was introduced for Christopher Lewis in the 60th minute and he twice went close to increasing PHC's lead -- one shot, with the outside of his foot, flashing across the face of the Boulevard goal and just wide.

But PHC ultimately had the woodwork to thank for keeping them in front as Boulevard's late rally almost brought them an equaliser.

With six minutes left, Robinson cut a ball back from the byline, Leroy Stevens headed it on and Dwight Warren, with his back to goal, flicked it over his shoulder and against the underside of the bar.

And three minutes later Tafari Outerbridge whipped in a free kick from the left which Bean flapped at and was relieved to see come back off the angle of bar and upright.

PHC E.Bean, A.Hunt, S.Smith, R.Lewis, C.Dowling, D.Burgess (D.Rawlings 77 mins), B.Anderson, B.Bean, C.Lewis (K.Mills 60 mins), S.Lewis, S.Astwood (E.Dowling 86 mins).

Boulevard A.Hendrickson, D.Charles, L.Stevens, D.Boyles, A.Caisey, V.Eve, N.Robinson, R.Bascome (K.Hill 57 mins), H.Bascome (S.Wade 67 mins), D.Warren, L.Hypolite (T.Outerbridge 77 mins).

Referee Lyndon Raynor.

Men of the match S.Lewis (PHC); A.Hendrickson (Boulevard).