Boulevard 2 Young Men’s Social Club 2

Boulevard’s Keedai Astwood scored an own goal with the last kick of the game to hand Young Men’s Social Club a point at Devonshire Recreation Club on Sunday night.

Social Club started on the front foot, keeping the ball well between both boxes around the Boulevard pressure. They had enough moments in the final third, but a lack of conviction and poor decision-making cost them in the early stages.

However, they opened the scoring midway through the first half from their best piece of intricate build-up on the left flank. Malique Wilson, Ryan Parris and Jinairo Johnston exchanged passes in a tight space before the latter played in Clay Darrell to slide his finish through the legs of Blazers goalkeeper DeAz Chambers.

Boulevard suffered an early blow when the injured Dean Lottimore had to be replaced by Ijahmon Mallory after half an hour. But they created their best chance of the first half a minute later when Khya Blyden drove to the goal line and crossed low for Jah-Zion Talbot Thomas, who flicked his effort off the far post.

Despite the strong finish to the half, Boulevard opted to refresh their attack at half time with Kenyade McQueen replacing Blyden.

Blazers continued their momentum from the conclusion of the first period and deservedly equalised five minutes into the second half. Shaquille Dill sharply controlled a driven pass by Talbot-Thomas, turned past Jah-Nai Smith and arrowed a low effort past motionless Social Club keeper Ryan Evans.

Blazers continued to cause problems but Social Club did well to hold firm defensively while also posing a threat on the break. They hit the post when Wilson showed quick feet to evade substitute McQueen, before cutting back for Johnston to fire towards goal, but he struck the woodwork.

Boulevard completed their fightback with the best goal of the night 14 minutes from time. Dill hit a powerful effort towards the far post, which was initially blocked but poorly cleared. Midfielder Nico Smith stepped onto the rebound and curled a delightful strike over the diving Evans into the far corner.

The final period of the game had the feel of a basketball match, with both clubs trying to steal the ball in dangerous areas and neither side really thinking about control. Neither team could fashion a single chance of note in open play but a mistake by a usually reliable player cost Blazers the points.

Social Club won a free kick deep into stoppage time, with Wilson fouled by Doreiko Walker. Zeiko Lewis whipped the set-piece into the danger area around the six-yard box, and Astwood scored into the wrong goal under pressure from Social substitute Terron Butterfield with the last kick of the match.

SCORERS

Boulevard: Dill 50, N Smith 76

Young Men’s Social Club: Darrell 23, Astwood 90+3 OG

TEAMS

Boulevard Blazers (4-2-3-1): D Chambers 6 — A Famous 6, J Walker 5, C Summers 6, D Lottimore 3 (sub: I Mallory, 30min 6) — N Smith 7, D Walker 5 — K Astwood 5, J Talbot-Thomas 6, K Blyden 5 (sub: K McQueen, 46 5) — S Dill 7 (sub: Y Darrell, 66 6). Substitutes not used: Z Stovell, Z Symonds, C Thompson, A Williams-Smith. Booked: Walker, Summers, T Smith (coach)

Young Men’s Social Club (4-2-3-1): R Evans 6 — J Smith 5, Z Jennings-Barnett 5 (sub: A Matthews, 69 5), A Simons 7, K Smith 6 (sub: T Butterfield, 68 6) — R Parris 6, J Johnston 7 — M Wilson 6, J Hardtman 5, Z Lewis 6 — C Darrell 6 (sub: G Butterfield, 55 5); Substitutes not used: M Rudo, A Samuels, K Singh, M Simmons. Booked: Evans, T Butterfield.

Referee: J Springer (Barbados).