Dandy Town were left to rue a late penalty miss as champions Boulevard roared back to steal a point in this tense Coca Cola First Division clash at St.

John's Field yesterday.

Walter Musson, whose spot-kick early in the second half regained the lead for Town, hit the inside of the left upright, giving the Blazers just the reprieve they needed.

Substitute Shivaughn Smith drew Boulevard level with a deflected shot in the 87th minute then an action-packed final few minutes could have produced a winner from either side.

Town approached this match the more desperate side and it was shown at the start with virtually wholesale changes throughout the starting eleven. The most significant, however, was Anthony Wilson in at sweeper and big Diallo Sharrieff returning as stopper while Troy Lewis was used at left-back to combat Stevie Wade's pace.

Up front, last season's MVP Darron Simons lost his starting spot to Nathan Webb. This was a move that paid dividends for Town as early as the 12th minute.

Boulevard's Dean Boyles and goalkeeper Mitchell Steede were punished for their indecision in dealing with a long ball by the hard-running Webb who nipped in between them and stabbed the ball home.

It was a shocking turn of events, as Boulevard had held the upper hand for the most part.

New signing David Gibbs should have levelled things in the 28th minute but his header from a Wade cross came back off the bar. Needless to say, the linesman's flag was up.

At the other end, it was Ascento Russell's lack of height that denied Town a two goal lead. Prompted by Webb's bustling effort, Khari Sharrieff crossed beyond 'keeper Steede but the ball merely skimmed Russell's head in front of the empty net before falling to safety. Town 'keeper Cymande Davis received a let-off in the 37th minute when he allowed a Dwight Warren cross to slip through his hands, but Wylie Rudo was in place to clean up.

Then, two minutes later, Boulevard were back on even terms with a goal as surprising as Town's.

Town appeared to have seen off another raid, but a quick ball back into the area caught them square and Ross Lambe forced the ball home after Davis struggled to handle a headed deflection.

Boulevard began the second half brightly with Gibbs hitting a drive that Davis comfortably saved only 15 seconds in.

But in the 52nd minute, they were behind again after Khari Sharrieff took off on a scything run from 30 yards out.

The lanky forward appeared to be fouled twice earlier but referee Roddy Burchall finally ruled in Town's favour when Albert Caisey stopped Sharrieff from getting off a telling shot.

Musson froze Steede with a kick to the right and Town were given a lead they scarcely deserved on the balance of play.

Unlike the first half, when they were forced almost constantly on defence after scoring, Town attacked when given the opportunity, making for an open contest.

George Smith did well to block Sharrieff's effort in the 62nd minute then at the other end Wade volleyed wide after Town were dispossessed deep in their half.

The action picked up appreciably with the introduction of Smith and Simons, for Gibbs and Webb respectively, midway through the half. And the latter almost scored after combining well with Khari Sharrieff in the 71st minute.

Simons would not want to remember his next contribution, however, as he and Boulevard's Leroy Stevens suffered a violent clash of heads.

They received treatment on the field for several minutes before going off; Simons to return while Stevens was replaced by Troy Smith.

It was Smith's heading error that led to the second penalty in the 80th minute, the ball putting Nirobi smith in behind Boyles who made a mess of his tackle.

Musson's miss was a rare one indeed and Boulevard took full advantage. Davis bravely saved from Warren on the end of a lobbed Wade cross, the winger presented a gift by Khari Sharrieff.

And a few minutes later, the full unravelling took place.

Davis' goal kick was poor, the ball was laid into Warren with his back to goal and the forward knocked it back to the onrushing Shivaughn Smith.

The 'keeper looked to have had the 20-yard shot covered, but the deflection left him hopelessly stranded in the wrong corner of the goal.

Boulevard's impressive midfielder Mel Bowen then nearly scored the most unlikeliest of goal in the 89th minute, an intended cross that caught Davis `cheating' and fell inches wide of the back post.

That reprieve in hand, Town should have wrapped it up in the dying stages.

They had two great chances, first an unmarked Russell heading over from eight yards on the end of a searching Diallo Sharrieff free kick, and then Khari Sharrieff amazingly shooting over from six yards after Simons' cross.

Again champions Boulevard looked the part, but one point out of a possible three is not good enough the way Vasco are playing.

Dandy Town: C.Davis; T.Lewis, A.Wilson, D.Sharrieff, W.Rudo; N.Smith, W.Musson, P.Douglas; K.Sharrieff, N.Webb (D.Simons, 63 mins), A.Russell.

Boulevard: M.Steede; A.Caisey, L.Stevens (T.Smith, 77 mins), D.Boyles, L.Hypolite; D.Warren, G.Smith, M.Bowen; R.Lambe (D.Bean, 85 mins), D.Gibbs (S.Smith, 66 mins), S.Wade.

Referee: Roddy Burchall.

Men of the match: Nirobi Smith (Dandy Town); Mel Bowen (Boulevard).

Photos by Tony Cordeiro GET IN THERE -- Boulevard forward Ross Lambe (above left) slides in to force the ball over the line in First Division action against Dandy Town at St.

John's Field yesterday. Pictured right, Lambe begins celebrating his first-half equaliser despite Town goalkeeper Cymande Davis' appeals for offside. The match ended 2-2.