Boulevard may be unable to defend their Dudley Eve Trophy over the Christmas break but they certainly played like champions yesterday as they defeated an uninspired Devonshire Colts outfit -- who are in the competition -- 3-2 at St.

David's.

The scoreline was flattering to Colts as they allowed their opponents -- Neil (Diamond) Robinson in particular -- to run roughshod over them almost from the opening whistle.

Robinson scored what proved to be the winner 15 minutes from time after substitute Harrison Trott almost singlehandedly had brought Colts back into the match. Trott scored twice to offset strikes by Boulevard's Kenny Hill and Carlos Pearman.

"We played terrible,'' said Colts player/coach Lorenzo Symonds, who will have to bring his men back up in time for the start of the holiday tournament tomorrow night. "We're supposed to go out and entertain and we didn't do that today.'' Colts looked dangerous early with Keishon Smith wasting a chance four minutes into the match when he sliced an effort wide from 10 yards with only goalkeeper Jean Gibbons to beat.

Moments later Gibbons was called on to palm away an inswinging corner by Mark Ray and then was able to block a snap-shot by Craig Smith.

At the other end, Colts' Andre Hendrickson proved equal to the task in keeping out a shot by Hill in the 17th minute after the striker had been sent clear of the defence by Leroy Stevens' fine through-ball.

But there would be no saving grace a minute later as Boulevard took the lead.

Right-back Dean Boyles overlapped and floated a cross to the far post where Hill outjumped Hendrickson and found the back of the net with his header.

Meanwhile, Robinson was causing all sorts of problems for a Colts defence missing regulars Chris Wright and Keenan Burchall.

In the 43rd minute, Robinson went on a solo run on the left flank before firing a shot from an acute angle that Hendrickson just kept from sneaking in at the near post.

The resultant corner saw the 'keeper not nearly so spectacular as he dropped Robinson's cross at the feet of Pearman who graciously accepted, poking the ball over the line from four yards to make the score 2-0.

Staring at a two-goal deficit to start the second half Colts were unable to raise their level and almost found themselves further behind.

Pearman looked to have notched his second tally two minutes following the restart only to have referee Rex Osborne disallow the goal and then Hendrickson saved a penalty by Robinson.

The introduction of Trott for Jermaine Belboda in the 62nd minute paid almost immediate dividends as he pulled one back for Colts eight minutes after entering the pitch.

Nevertheless, the visitors' fate would be effectively sealed four minutes later when Robinson capped a fine afternoon for the Blazers with his side's third goal.

Trott again reduced the arrears to a single score and Colts had another chance to snatch the equaliser when Keishon Smith made a mess of a breakaway. But this day belonged to Boulevard, who looked like recapturing the form that brought them the Dudley Eve Trophy and a runners-up position in the league last year.

Boulevard: J.Gibbons; V.Eve, K.Darrell, L.Stevens, D.Boyles; J.Boyles, C.Pearman, N.Robinson; A.Brown (V.Symonds, 74 mins), K.Hill, D.Warren.

Devonshire Colts: A.Hendrickson; J.Samuels, D.Wright, J.Bean (L.Symonds, 42 mins), J.Belboda (H.Trott, 62 mins); M.Ray, L.Hypolite, V.Ball; C.Smith, K.Smith, Y.Wade.

Referee: Rex Osborne.

Men of the match: Neil Robinson (Boulevard); Vic Ball (Devonshire Colts).

NEIL ROBINSON -- In fine form for Boulevard.