A controversial penalty that was converted by striker Kenny Hill two minutes from time gave Boulevard a deserved point in this Coca Cola First Division game at St. John's field against the defending league champions.

The hotly disputed goal, though, was even more overshadowed by a fracas in this league opener that saw players and fans from both sides involved in a shoving match in Dandy Town's goalmouth after the clash that led to the decision for the penalty.

Though it was ugly the melee was brief with no punches thrown and club and both team officials moving swiftly to resolve order.

The incident was ignited when Dandy Town's goalkeeper Cymande Davis went into the air to collect the ball while Boulevard's striker Kenny Hill was offering a spirited challenge.

Davis is said to have purposely fired an elbow that struck Hill in the face as he landed and this is why referee Stuart Crockwell awarded a penalty -- strangely though after booking both players.

Until Hill found the mark Boulevard were all over their opponents with a sustained attack that started from the half when an obvious encouraging talk from coach Danvers Seymour inspired them on after an uncertain first 45 minutes.

While Dandy Town held a decisive edge in the first half the home team only got on the score sheet with the help of goalkeeper Mitchell Steede who mysteriously let a seemingly harmless 17-yard grounder from skipper Walter Musson slip though his hands and legs and race into goal after 20 minutes.

Dandy Town should have taken a 1-0 lead earlier but striker Carlos Smith watched in agony as his 18-yard scorcher, hit when the defence was caught back pedalling, crashed off the bar and was cleared.

Town's dominance continue until the half with Smith, Musson and Kris Martin putting shots wide. Coach Seymour showed that he was not afraid to take risks when he made two early and courageous substitutions in a desperate attempt to curb his team's slide. First he brought on Hewvonne Baker to replace Steede in goal and then brought on Albert Caisey for right-back Mitchell Trott after warning the youngster to get his game together.

The gutsy substitutions were made after 29 minutes and brought immediate dividends because no longer were Boulevard so blatantly vulnerable in defence.

Boulevard though remained quiet up front and their best scoring effort came after 38 minutes when Hill fired the ball into the side-netting.

Fired up and prepared to take risk in the second half by putting more players forward, Boulevard's new approach paid off and they managed to unsettle their opponents during the entire half.

Dandy Town were visibly rattled by the intense pressure and it was hard for them to overcome the shakiness -- even the usually efficient Davis in goal had difficulty in holding the ball.

Within the first 10 minutes of the restart full-back Vernon Eve and Hill put efforts wide of the post, Hill's miss coming from a header when he was just a couple of yards out.

In a quick counter-attack after 52 minutes Dandy Town's Carlos Smith beat two defenders and sent a grounder that Brown dived to saved, but the home team's chances were few and far between in the second half.

Boulevard continued to dictate with George Smith firing over from 16 yards, Hill heading a Dean Boyles' cross wide and Wade putting a ball over from the edge of the box.

Wade was in position to get the equaliser after 75 minutes but his hesitation enabled the defence to scramble the ball away of danger when he was about to shoot from 14 yards.

An equaliser by Boulevard always seemed inevitable, but it turned out that it would only come from the penalty spot after the unfortunate incident.

Dandy Town: C.Davis; W.Rudo, W.Campbell, P.Douglas, W.Musson; L.Furbert, K.Martin, G.Johnson (L.Christopher, 53 min); J.Weeks (N.Webb, 66 min), C.Smith, D.Simons.

Boulevard: M.Steede (H.Baker, 29 min); M.Trott (A.Caisey, 29 min), D.Charles, L.Stevens, V.Eve; D.Boyles, G.Smith, N.Robinson, D.Warren; S.Wade, K.Hill.

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.

Men of the match: Wayne Campbell (Dandy Town); Donnie Charles (Boulevard).