Boulevard 2 Devonshire Colts 0

Boulevard Blazers lived up to their name yesterday as they scorched a path into the final four of the Martonmere Cup, convincingly drubbing Devonshire Colts 2-0.

In fact, the scoreline could well have been more heavily weighted in the winners' favour but for some excellent point-blank and diving saves from Colts custodian Khabir Dill, particularly in the last 20 minutes of the match at BAA Field.

Despite two blunders that allowed Conneko Trott and Melchisedec Gibbons to score on either side of the half, Dill proved his team's outstanding player as the majority of his colleagues endured miserable performances.

Colts, needing an outright victory to advance in the competition, somehow never looked the part and were so creatively deficient in attack that Shejuan Swan hardly broke a sweat in Boulevard's goal.

The writing was perhaps on the wall - or more precisely the pitch - within the first ten minutes when usually-lethal Colts striker Aljame Zuill missed an unbelievably easy chance to put his team ahead. Receiving a lobbed pass right on his toe and halfway down the left flank, he had only the back-pedalling Swan to beat but instead managed to get the ball stuck underfoot and tripped and fell over.

That was arguably Colts' best chance as other efforts flew wide or were comfortably held by the goalie.

By contrast, Boulevard - well marshalled by their captain Shaki Crockwell - set about their mission in business-like fashion and, in the 15th minute, Trott pounded home a right-footer after Dill parried a free kick from Gibbons directly to the scorer. Blazers were on their way 1-0.

Gibbons was denied by one of Dill's point-blank saves from getting his own name on the scoresheet before the half-time whistle. However, the slimly-built forward rectified that as soon as the second half opened.

In the 46th minute, he outwitted Dill with a free kick from a sharp angle on the far right of the goal. The Colts `keeper could only watch in disbelief - stranded on the front post - as the ball sailed over his head to rock the net's back, upper corner.

Realising they now required three goals, Colts pressed on with some urgency but Boulevard's defensive line stood firm and cool. At the other end, Gibbons, Crockwell and even Robert Wilson - venturing from the back occasionally - terrorised the opposition's goal and, though their team were unable to increase their account, their dominance wilted Colts' spirit and output.

"I thought we worked hard and we did what we wanted to do - get on top of the competition from the start and stay there," said skipper Crockwell assessing his squad's effort.

One positive which he highlighted was better finishing by his team; an aspect of their game which, he noted, had been lacking before.

"It was a strong all-round performance but there is always room for improvement," he added, heading off to join his team-mates in celebration.

Boulevard Blazers: S.Swan, R.Wilson (D.Cox, 72 mins), S.Lewis, L.Stevens, T.Davis, F.El Karfa (M.Parsons, 68 mins), C.Simmons, C.Trott, M.Gibbons, R.Burgess and S.Crockwell (H.Boukhloufi, 78 mins).

Devonshire Colts: K.Dill, Jermel Belboda, M.Bean, M.Hollis, J.Belboda, D.Williams (J.Dill, 78 mins), R.Spence, L.Holder, Q.Aberdeen (R.Evans, 69 mins), A.Zuill and S.Burgess (M.Burch, 81 mins).

Booked: R.Burgess, S.Crockwell (Blazers); J.Belboda (Colts).

Men of the Match: M.Gibbons (Blazers); K.Dill (Colts).

Referee: L.Raynor.