Jubilant Boulevard coach John Rebello yesterday attributed Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final victory over Somerset Trojans to the hard working Jahmah Samuels and Conneko Trott as well his side’s overall commitment.

Blazers stopped high-flying Trojans dead in their tracks at Southampton Oval with a 1-0 victory to advance to a first FA Cup final since 1997.

Samuels, back from a brief stint in the Commercial League ranks, proved to be a rock in defence while Rebello’s late decision to switch Trott in the middle of the park ultimately paid huge dividends for the Blazers.

“Jahmah has been solid for us all year and I think that when I brought Conneko into midfield he dominated the centre and gradually changed the game around in our favour,” the coach said. “I think that these two players were the key for us against Somerset.”

Then of course there was the constant threat of Boulevard captain Shaki Crockwell and Angelo Simmons up front and timely saves by ‘keeper Nathan Darrell on the rare occasions when Trojans managed to get behind their opponents’ defence.

Super sub Raymond Burgess netted the decisive goal.

“We knew we hadn’t played any football in three weeks. But we felt we had to make the field even smaller than what it was and try and play short passes and not allow Somerset to get the ball, and it worked,” Rebello explained.

When referee Jenny Villamarin blew the final whistle, the look on Rebello’s face was one of joy. But his time at Blazers hasn’t always been as rosy.

After coaching the club back to the Premier Division in 2002, Rebello quit the post two seasons later out of frustration for what he perceived as a lack of commitment from his players.

And although his return to the helm probably hasn’t been any less stressful, with Blazers having squandered a golden opportunity to win a first Premier Division championship since 1995, at least there now seems to be light at the end of the tunnel for one of the league’s most successful coaches.

Rebello won multiple league and cup honours during a dominant spell at former powerhouses Vasco da Gama, leading the Portuguese club to the coveted triple crown in 1998. And now he’s headed back to the FA Cup final with a team some feel have the potential to achieve even more success.

This Sunday Boulevard will know exactly who they will meet in the April 22 final at the National Sports Centre as First Division clubs St.George’s Colts and Devonshire Colts do battle at Somerset Cricket Club in the second semi-final.

“Now we will have to wait and see who our opposition is and continue to train hard because at this stage of the competition you really can’t take anyone for granted,” Rebello said.

Trojans’ coach Dennis Brown, meanwhile, felt his team were robbed by a linesman’s flag after Sean Simmons had an equaliser disallowed for offside deep into extra-time.

“The linesman made a decision and that’s how it goes. And you can’t bring it back,” he said.

The former Bermuda international was also critical of Bermuda Football Association’s decision to stage such a crucial match on the smaller confines at Southampton Oval.

“Our game plan definitely changed because of the size of the pitch. And I hope that in the future the association look at the dynamics of where they play semi-final matches,” Brown said.

“It wasn’t just having to play on the pitch . . . you couldn’t even get an ambulance to drive onto it.”

Sunday’s match was held up for several minutes in the first half as Blazers’ full back Kelvon Butterfield had to be rolled across the pitch on a stretcher to an awaiting ambulance after dislocating his right shoulder.

Butterfield is expected to make a speedy recovery and could possibly be back in time for this month’s final, Rebello said.