Devonshire Cougars 2 Boulevard 1

Devonshire Cougars threw the race for the Premier Division championship wide open with this hard-fought victory over leaders Boulevard at the Den yesterday.

Superbly taken goals either side of the half from Kwame Steede and Raymond Beach helped to bring Boulevard?s previously unbeaten league record to a grinding halt before a large crowd who came out to witness the all-city derby.

Angelo Simmons replied for Boulevard from the penalty spot. But it wasn?t enough to prevent second-placed Somerset Trojans ? who thrashed Paget Lions 5-1 at White Hill Field ? from making up valuable ground on the leaders.

Blazers now lead the Premier Division standings by three points over second-placed Trojans, and five over Cougars, with six matches remaining in the 2006-07 league campaign.

After a slow start, Cougars? captain Steede rose above the Blazers? defence to powerfully head home Omar Butterfield?s inviting cross in the10th minute.

Beach then doubled Cougars? lead in the 70th minute with a firm low drive that crept under the body of ?keeper Michael Higgs and crossed the goal-line.

Blazers then pulled one back through Simmons? disputed 90th minute penalty that was awarded after substitute Lamaul Crofton was shoved in the box.

Boulevard, who were without key players Melchisedec Gibbons (suspended) and Stanton Lewis (injured), were then unlucky not to have grabbed a last gasp equaliser when substitute Wolde Place got behind the defence. However, the former Dandy Town player shot over when well placed to the left of goal.

Paget 1 Somerset Trojans 5

Adolphus Lambert scored a maiden hat- trick in top flight football in his own back yard at White Hill Field to propel Trojans to a crushing win over Paget Lions.

In recent times Trojans? matches against Paget have been reduced to target practice.

And yesterday proved to be no exception as Trojans cut into Blazers? lead at the top of the division.

Trojans? skipper and national team midfielder Jelani Scott got the ball rolling for his team when he put them ahead after turning sharply in the box and volleying home.

Former Lion Dion Stovell then forged Trojans further ahead when he lobbed the ball over the onrushing ?keeper after being put through.

But from this point onwards Lambert took full control of proceedings.

Lambert opened his account when he was on hand to stab home a Stephen Astwood rebound. He then cleverly helped himself to another goal with a delicate chip over the ?keeper and completed his hat-trick from fine solo run by tucking the ball in the bottom left corner of goal.

Paget replied through a Travis Wilkinson strike.

PHC 2 North Village 2

PHC and North Village battled to a hard-fought draw at Southampton Oval.

Zebras led twice during the match, only to have the defending league champions claw their way back to earn a vital point.

Cecoy Robinson put PHC ahead before Ralph Bean jr levelled the scores.

Dennis Russell then restored PHC?s lead from the penalty spot, but Kofi Dill netted a rare goal to earn Village a share of the spoils.

St.David?s 2 Dandy Town 2

Otis Minors endured mixed fortunes at Lords yesterday.

The St.David?s stalwart netted a brace to put Warriors well on course for what would have been a first win of the season.

However, the veteran player then suffered the indignity of putting through his own net to let visiting Dandy Town off the hook and put paid to his team?s hopes for an upset win.

Lloyd Holder netted Town?s other goal.