Boulevard Blazers learned a very valuable lesson at Devonshire Rec. last night . . . never underestimate a wounded Ram.

After suffering successive losses against Dandy Town and a nine-man Devonshire Cougars, Village dug deep to break free from a recent losing streak by hammering three goals all against the run of play to kill off a determined Blazers side which paid a heavy price for some poor finishing in front of goal.

The Reds clung to a slim 1-0 lead at the half courtesy of a Kofi Dill 22nd minute strike and should have doubled their lead five minutes later when they were awarded a penalty. However, Village captain Ralph Bean Jr.?s weakly struck spot kick was easily saved by Blazers ?keeper Shejuan Swan, thus forcing the Reds to sweat it out until late in the second half before super sub Quincy Paynter executed a simple tap from close range in to provide his team with a 2-0 cushion.

But Bean, who ran tirelessly all night down the middle and on the flanks, would save face and redeem himself for the earlier penalty miss with a low right-footed angled drive from 12 yards which nestled in at the far post to put the match beyond Blazers? reach, just before the end.

Indeed the sight of inspirational sweeper Meshach Wade being stretchered off the pitch in the 37th minute of play would prove to be a bad omen for a Blazers side that had their opponents pinned up against the ropes for long spells but just could not serve the last rites.

?The loss of Meshach (Wade) in any team is a crucial loss,? said Village player/coach Kentoine Jennings afterwards. ?He?s a quality player but we were able to take advantage of his misfortunes and show a lot of heart.

?I think there was a lesson for the guys to learn out there tonight and in the end we managed to hang in there.?

Village, defending Martonmere Cup champions, finished runners up in Group A to clinch a place in the semi-finals against Cougars on October 12.

Village drew first blood shortly after weathering some early Blazers pressure with defender Dill ? venturing forward to help out in attack ? breaking the ice by firing a Mackie Crane cross from the left into the roof of the net from eight yards.

The Reds then should have been two up when Bean was tripped up in the box by Jahmarley Samuels as he wriggled his way past two defenders. However, the Bermuda national team striker?s spot kick left much to be desired as Swan made an easy grab diving to his right.

Given a reprieve, Blazers, stealing a leaf out of Village?s book, prised the Reds open by leaving no grass untouched and utilising a superior one-touch passing game that kept their opponents chasing ghosts.

Pacy forward Gregory Johnson again proved to be a menace, waltzing down the right-flank. Johnson wreaked havoc on the Village defence with his lightning pace.

With the pendulum swinging heavily in Blazers favour, Johnson nearly equalised on the half-hour with a fierce left-footed drive that smashed on to the bar and was cleared away.

But fate would deal Blazers a cruel blow when Wade landed awkwardly after challenging in the middle for a loose ball and would be subsequently replaced by Conneko Trott.

Though play after the restart again proved to be non-stop, end-to-end action, neither team were able to create clear-cut opportunities until Blazers ? now desperately lunging forward in search of an equaliser ? opened up at the back to allow the opportunistic Paynter and Bean to slip in the through the back door and deliver the goods.

: Z.Hendrickson, G.Augustus, K.Dill, Ken.Jennings, S.Goater, T.Outerbridge, J.Boyles (K.Dill, 85 mins), K.Jennings, M.Crane (Q.Paynter, 73 mins), R.Bean Jr, V.Tankard.: S.Swan, A.Caisey, Jah.Samuels, M.Wade (C.Trott, 37 mins), R.Wilson, G.Johnson, T.Davis, M.Gibbons (capt), M.Belboda, D.Russell (A.Simmons, 52 mins), D.Warren (M.Parsons, 63 mins).: S.Goater (Village); A.Caisey, Jah.Samuels (Boulevard). K.Dill (Village); S.Swan/G.Johnson (Boulevard): Stuart Crockwell.