Boulevard Blazers 1 Dandy Town 3

This surprise two-goal victory at BAA on Saturday night saw visiting Dandy Town virtually kill off the Blazers’ aspirations of capturing the Premier Division title this season.

In a contest that saw all four goals come in the second half, Town took a commanding 3-0 lead after 75 minutes to put the result out of reach, leaving Blazers with the lone satisfaction of a consolation goal in injury time.

Finding the mark for Town were skipper Carlos Smith, Michael Parsons and substitute Antoine Russell while Jamal Warren pulled one back for Blazers.

Entering the game in third place and in a strong position to continue their challenge for the title with leaders Devonshire Cougars and North Village, Blazers looked anything but a championship side as they clearly lacked ideas up front without the services of top-scorer Shaki Crockwell.

Though there was clearly rustiness in their play the Blazers held a decisive territorial edge in the opening half and ought to have led handsomely after 45 minutes — but blew too many easy scoring chances.

Striker Raymond Burgess started off the misses when he headed a cross over from close range after just five minutes.

And more blatant miscues were to follow with Jason Smith in the Town goal advancing off his line to block Laumal Crofton as he slipped through the defence on a breakway with the game 26-minutes old.

The most astonishing blunder, however, came after 33 minutes when Angelo Simmons created an opening for forward Walde Place — who somehow placed his shot wide from just a couple of yards.

Five minutes later defender Jahmah Samuels watched in agony as his goal-bound drive destined for the back of the net was blocked by a defender.

Town accomplished very little sandwiched between these raids, with one of their best efforts being a fierce shot by midfield Otis Steede which sailed inches wide of the post from 20 yards after 18 minutes.

Blazers surprisingly were no longer able to threaten to overrun their opponents when play restarted as Town quickly took charge, grabbing a 1-0 lead when their leader Smith headed home a cross from the right after 47 minutes.

The middle of the table side piled on the pressure, forcing Michael Higgs in the Blazers’ goal to fall to the ground to save a scorcher from Heys Wolfe affer 55 minutes from 16 yards.

After a long spell elapsed with no further goals, but Town remained in full control and alertly made three substitutions at once after 70 minutes — with the move paying almost immediate dividends.

Although goalkeeper Higgs’ inefficiency helped to contribute to the second goal Town were ecstatic when Parsons’ 25-yard shot sailed into the net with the assistance of the ‘keeper after 73 minutes.

Two minutes later Antoine Russell made it 3-0, tapping the ball home from close range with the defence caught in a mess.

Blazers refused to throw in the towel and came roaring back with chances during the final ten minutes of play, twice forcing a packed Town defence to make desperate clearances from the goal-line before Warren got their consolation goal in injury time.

Boulevard: Mike Higgs; C.Matthews, J.Warren, Jahmarley Samuels, K.Butterfield, C.Trott, Jahmah Samuels, L.Crofton (D.Darrell, 68 min), W.Place (I.Coke, 57 min), A.Simmons, R.Burgess (D.Warren, 63 min).

Dandy Town: J.Smith; E.Signor, S.Smith, T.Russell, D.Zuill, O.Steede, M.Parsons, H.Wolfe (L.Holder, 70 min), L.Dill (A.Russell, 70 min), J.Dickinson (M.Smithm, 70 min), C.Smith.>

Booked: K.Butterfield (Boulevard).

Men of the match: J.Warren (Blazers); C.Smith (Town)B>

Referee: L.Raynor