X-Roads 3 Boulevard 2

Donovan Thompson headed in a stoppage-time winner for X-Roads Warriors to overcome a stubborn Boulevard Blazers at St David’s and remain unconquered in the Premier Division.

Thompson had earlier doubled the X-Roads lead in the 62nd minute after captain Paul Simons put them ahead with a 38th-minute penalty.

Boulevard fought hard to win two penalties, which were converted by Jah Zion Talbot-Thomas in the 64th and substitute Ijahmon Mallory in the 86th, for Troy Smith’s side to come close to securing their second draw of the season.

“I owed these guys a goal from games before this and this game right here,” Thompson told The Royal Gazette.

“I missed the chance earlier which could have sealed it, but I don't want to dwell too much on that.

“I don't want to discredit Boulevard Blazers; they are a very physical team. We always knew it was going to be a hard one to pull off, but we stuck to the plan and got the three points.

“My target really is for the team, like whatever I could do for the team is what I’m willing to do. I’m not really worried about individual accolades.

“I’m just worried about winning the league or whatever we’re trying to win with these guys. That would mean more to me than any individual achievements.”

With not much to talk about in the opening half-hour, referee Dwight Jackson awarded the first of three penalties on the afternoon for handball.

Simons turned provider to tee up Thompson for his first goal of the afternoon to double the X-Roads advantage.

Boulevard won their first penalty when Krishun Douglas pulled down Khya Blyden. Talbot-Thomas stepped up to reduce the deficit for his team.

Thompson wasted three glorious opportunities to seal the win. First, he could not keep his header down with ten minutes to go before Michael Andrew made a good stop from a corner and the forward rattled the upright after the goalkeeper had spilt Samuel McKittrick’s shot.

Doreiko Walker was fouled by Tyler Dill for Boulevard to earn a second spot-kick. Mallory sent Kamran Harvey the wrong way to level the scores.

X-Roads stole it right at the end when Kahmori Brangman’s inch-perfect cross was headed in by Thompson.

Smith was pleased with how his team fought despite the absence of key players through injury.

“That’s a hard one to lose in the last minute again; it’s not nice at all,” he said.

“We gave everything we got. Wave a lot of injuries the same way and because of that, I think we did great.

“We have about five guys injured and obviously that’s affecting the flow of how we want to play our game. Even this midfield we played today, they played really good football.

“We just have to be a little bit more focused to the end. The last kick off the game cost us. We did that last week the same way and drew with [Young Men’s] Social Club.

“It’s good to compete, too, as long as we’re not losing badly. We have made a statement to other teams that we can play the game. Teams will come prepared when playing against us.”

SCORERS

X-Roads: Simons 38 pen, Thompson 62, 90+2

Boulevard Blazers: Talbot-Thomas 64 pen, Mallory 86 pen

TEAMS

X-Roads (4-3-3): K Harvey 6 — T Dill 6, C Smith 6, E Abranches 7, D Teleman 6 (sub: S McKittrick, 57min) — K Douglas 6, J Bean 6 (sub: J Dill, 75), K Richardson 6 — K Brangman 6, P Simons 7 (sub: R Simmons, 71), D Thompson 7. Substitutes not used: C Smith, A Darrell, C Binnie. Booked: Dill, Smith.

Boulevard Blazers (4-3-3): M Andrew 6 — J Walker 6 (sub: Z Stovell, 84), C Summers 5 (sub: I Mallory, 46, 6), A Famous 6, K Astwood 6 — K Butterfield 6, Y Darrell 6, N Smith 6 — D Walker 6 (sub: Z Symonds, 90), J Talbot-Thomas 6, K Blyden 6. Substitutes not used: R Grant. Booked: Walker.

Referee: D Jackson.