A dreadful goalkeeping error by Mitchell Steede proved the difference in a Coca-Cola First Division match at St. John's field yesterday that never lived up to its top billing.

Play was undistinguished for long periods and at times the affair better resembled a wrestling match.

So when Steede dropped Paul Cann's cross and Carlos Smith headed home from three yards in the 27th minute, it loomed large.

Neither side got much together going forward and in the end it appeared they came out of the gate too fast on an extremely hot October afternoon.

Town created the first chance in the 11th minute but Smith's tame shot could only find the side netting.

Town goalkeeper Cymande Davis was called into action for the first time in the 14th minute when he stooped to save a shot on the turn from Kenny Hill after Wayne Campbell miskicked.

Then came a series of errors from Boulevard's 'keeper. First, in the 20th minute, he let a Cann cross through his legs but was spared when Dean Boyles cleared from Smith in front of goal.

Six minutes later, he struggled to tip Kris Martin's cross over the top. The fatal error miscue from the ensuing corner and Boulevard were behind, though undeservedly.

The Blazers kept their heads and surged forward with Don Lewis desperately clearing a long Boyles throw that was allowed to bounce and Amon Brown producing a fine ball from the right that went untouched through the Town area.

But, at the other end, Steede's uncertainty again came to the fore when he dove to parry a Wylie Rudo shot, which appeared easier to collect standing up.

Boulevard should have drawn level in the 42nd minute when a golden opportunity fell to their skipper, Dwight Warren.

Warren was put through by a hopeful Hill ball over the top and did well to fight off Don Lewis. Left with only the advancing Davis to beat and the ball falling on his trusty left boot, Warren blasted over from 15 yards.

Boulevard would rue that miss as they got no closer to threatening Davis until the final minute.

Town were no more menacing but they were purposeful coming forward on the counter-attack with Pernell Douglas covering a lot of ground in midfield, as did Devarr Boyles whenever he was not the victim of a foul.

For Boulevard, Warren worked hard throughout but they hardly looked like the team who have gained national attention in the early season.

In the second half, Steede picked up where he left off as he dropped a Martin free kick in the 53rd minute, but his defence reacted quickly to clear.

Boulevard noticeably picked up the pace from the 60-minute mark but still failed to make an impression on the Town defence as Campbell and Troy Harvey in the middle gradually improved.

Douglas ended a ragged spell in the 71st minute with a 30-yarder that went narrowly over.

Warren thought he had breached the defence in the 75th minute but he overran the ball and Davis saved at his feet. Seconds later, Clinton Caisey mishit hit a shot and Brown drove wide, both from good positions.

Albert Caisey had his first shot on goal in the 81st minute but it took a wicked deflection and went over with Davis beaten.

Town sub Clarkie Riley nearly got on the scoresheet when his right-foot shot from 20 yards went just past a post, then Boulevard made a final push.

Central defender Leroy Stevens pressed forward and combined with Warren before making one pass too many when a shot was on. Instead, it found Warren in an offside position and Boulevard were moments away from their first defeat of the season.

Clinton Caisey and Leroy Stevens of Boulevard were the only players booked.

Dandy Town: C.Davis; W.Rudo, W.Campbell, T.Harvey, D.Lewis; K.Martin, P.Douglas, T.Lewis (C.Riley, 57 mins), D.Boyles; C.Smith (W.Musson, 81 mins), P.Cann.

Boulevard: M.Steede; V Eve, W.Richardson, L.Stevens, D.Boyles; C.Caisey, A.Caisey, A.Brown; D.Warren, K.Hill (V.Symonds, 63 mins), M.Smith (S.Smith, 54 mins).

Referee: Roddy Burchall.

Men of the match: Pernell Douglas (Dandy Town); Dean Boyles (Boulevard).

ANYBODY'S BALL -- Dandy Town defender Wayne Campbell, right, attempts to clear from Amon Brown who has team-mate Maurice Smith in the background in support.

Town won 1-0 on a first-half goal from Carlos Smith.