PHC 0 Boulevard 1

Keedai Astwood’s first-half strike held up to be the only goal of the game as relegated Boulevard Blazers beat third-placed PHC Zebras on Sunday.

Knowing that they had to win this game and rely on other results to go their way, PHC threatened from the opening whistle. A partial clearance gave Kadeem Abraham then Chance Eve opportunities to score but Abraham slammed wide followed by Eve, who brought Blazers’ goalkeeper DeAz Chambers into action with a diving save.

Daren Usher then hit a low cross which Abraham met with a volley but went straight at Chambers, who was well positioned to cradle.

Blazers had a golden opportunity to score when PHC goalkeeper Quinaceo Hunt overran a back-pass but striker Ysavier Darrell failed to capitalise as the ball sliced off his foot to allow the PHC defence to recover and clear to safety.

Joshua Joseph picked out Eve with a cross to the back post with his header destined for the back of the net before Chambers brought off a diving save to push the ball around the post.

Despite PHC controlling the majority of possession, Boulevard scored against the run of play.

On a rare attack, the Blazers locked PHC in their own half and would win an attempted clearance. The ball was played onto the blind side of the PHC defence for Astwood to keep his composure and calmly place the ball beyond the onrushing Hunt to score the only goal of the game.

Rayquan Woodley-Smith nearly found the equaliser for the Zebras when he was given room to dribble but although his shot beat Chambers for height, it rattled the underside of the crossbar and bounced into the field of play.

The Zebras introduced their leading goalscorer, Bermuda international Enrique Russell, in the 72nd minute and he would have an immediate impact with his attacking pace and ball control.

PHC thought they had equalised minutes later when Joseph picked up a partial clearance and squeezed his shot through a maze of players into the net but the effort was ruled offside.

PHC continued to run at the Blazers defence with wave after wave of attack but they could not penetrate a determined Blazers defence marshalled by veterans Ijahmon Mallory and Anthony Williams-Smith. However, when they did get through, they would race their pass or shoot under pressure.

Russell found space to get off a half volley, but goalkeeper Chambers did well to stick out his right hand and parry away from his goal to preserve the lead.

PHC should have equalised with nearly the last kick of the match. Harlem Bean-Fox robbed Blazers defender Antione Famous deep in his half and drew Chambers to the near post before pulling back for Russell. However, the usually reliable goalpoacher would side-foot wide from three yards out with the goal at this mercy to the disbelief of PHC players and fans.

Despite being relegated, Blazers’ coach Troy “Box” Smith was happy with the win and upbeat of his team’s chances of returning to the Premier Division next season.

“This was a good win for us and gave us a chance to showcase our youth, so I hope that we can take this and be better in the First Division next year to make a quick return.”

Scorers

Boulevard: Astwood 25

Teams

PHC Zebras (4-2-3-1): Q Hunt 6 ― R Woodley- Smith 5 (sub: H Bean-Fox 46min, 6), D Lodge 6, J Richardson 6, D Smith-Lightbourne 5 (sub: J Martin, 86) ― K Abraham 6 (sub: E Russell, 72), S Burrows 5 ― A Astwood 6, D Usher 5, J Joseph 6 (sub: J Iris, 74) ― C Eve 6 (sub: K White, 80). Substitutes not used: E King-Mills, J Hassell.

Boulevard Blazers (4-2-3-1): D Chambers 8 ― Z Stovell 5, I Mallory 7, A Williams-Smith 7, A Famous 6 ― T Gibbons 6, N Smith 6 ― J Talbot Thomas 5, E Trott 6, K Astwood 7 ― Y Darrell 5 (sub: D Walker, 58 5). Substitutes not used: N Daley, J Walker. Booked: D Walker, N Smith, Mallory, Famous.

Referee: K Pennyfeather (Antigua and Barbuda)