Devonshire Colts 0 Boulevard 1

Just when it looked as though both of these jaded teams would leave with a point apiece, Boulevard skipper Shaki Crockwell came up with a last-minute goal to secure maximum points for the Blazers in this Premier Division clash at White Hill Field yesterday.

With time all but expired, midfielder Jahmal Samuels found his skipper with a defence-splitting cross from the left. The fleet-footed Crockwell swiftly moved into position and, brushing off a challenge from Colts' centre-back and skipper Shannon Burgess, he coolly placed the ball past advancing goalkeeper Cymande Davis to settle the issue.

The goal that ripped the heart out of Colts never looked like it would come. For much of the game both teams lacked finishing punch and it was difficult to believe that both are challenging for league honours.

Play in the opening half was largely uneventful with the defences dominating.

The only real scoring opportunity fell Boulevard's way after 15 minutes with Crockwell firing a hard shot at goalkeeper Davis from an angle 15 yards out on the right, but the ball deflected off the keeper's chest and was cleared.

Without top scorer Aljame Zuill, Colts' attack sputtered throughout and Shejuan Swan in the Boulevard goal was for the most part a spectator.

The teams played with more intensity after the interval and Colts showed more imagination going forward. After 52 minutes, hard-working midfielder Steven Mendes fired a rocket against the post, the ferocity of the shot causing the crossbar to dissemble and almost strike goalkeeper Swan in the back of the head.

Play was stopped for eight minutes as it was fixed.

Colts, playing with some momentum for the first time, looked capable of taking the initiative and once Sekai Waldron came off the substitutes' bench for Gershon Gibbons after 58 minutes they began to make more progress, pinning down Boulevard's defence. But the surge didn't last long.

Boulevard brought on their top scorer, Melchisedic Gibbons, who has missed a number of games through injury, after 64 minutes and his appearance added spark to their attack.

After 68 minutes Farid El Karfa was put through but skied woefully over the bar from 14 yards out but Colts responded when substitute Quincy Aberdeen created an opening for Lloyd Holder who hurried his shot inches wide of the post from 15 yards.

Crockwell followed up the miss by Holder by watching in agony as his shot on a breakaway was deflected wide by Davis eight minutes from the end.

With fans of both teams about to accept the fact that there would be no winner on this day, Crockwell slipped through the defence to prove otherwise.

Devonshire Colts: C.Davis; Jermel Belboda, R.Evans, S.Burgess, G.Gibbons; Jermaine Belboda (Q.Aberdeen, 75 mins), S.Mendes, P.Sampson; L.Holder, M.Ray, J.Smith (K.Simpson, 65 mins). Subs not used: A.Hendrickson. Booked - Jermaine Belboda, Jamel Smith.

Boulevard: S.Swan; T.Trott, L.Hypolite, J.Samuels, A.Caisey; S.Wade, C.Trott, F.El Karfa (C.Saisey, 70 mins); S.Crockwell, T.Walker (M.Hewey, 86 mins), M.Parsons (M.Gibbons, 64 mins). Subs not used: M.Pace, M.Trott.

Men of the match: Steven Mendes (Colts); Leonard Hypolite (Boulevard).

Referee: George O'Brien.