Village go top as Blazers pay for missed chances
But instead they exited the ground licking their wounds from a match that had been theirs for the taking.
The visitors should’ve come away with the goods as they created the better scoring opportunities to keep Village on the back foot for long spells during a fiercely contested affair.
And Blazers coach John Rebello was the first to admit afterwards that his team let their hosts off the hook.
“We dominated possession and should’ve been up 4-1 in the first half,” he claimed. “We played the better football and had the better chances.
“Village are now on top, and we wish them all the best. But the league is not over yet and we are still in the race.
“But obviously I’m disappointed because my team had their opportunities and should have put their chances away, but didn’t. And at the end of the day they came back to haunt us.”
Village went ahead for good through a Shaki Crockwell own goal and doubled their lead right at the end with an insurance strike from the prolific boot of Ralph Bean jr.
The win enabled Village to leapfrog Boulevard and take sole possession of first place, one point ahead of the Blazers.
“Football is a cruel game. If you don’t take your chances, they come back to haunt you,” Rebello added.
Never one to get overwhelmed, Reds coach Dwayne (Streaker) Adams took the result all in stride.
“When teams don’t take their opportunities it always leaves the other team a chance to come in,” he said. “And once an opportunity is gone, it’s gone. I just think when we got our chances, we put them away.”
No stranger to controversy, referee Anthony Francis had another one of those afternoons he’ll probably want to quickly forget as he dished out four yellow cards and sent off Village’s Jemeiko Jennings and Boulevard’s Steven Bremar jr during a heated affair.
Bremar was the first to go in the 64th minute for unsportsmanlike conduct, kicking ‘keeper Zane Hendrickson during an anxious moment in the Village defence. But the home team’s numerical advantage only lasted 12 minutes as midfielder Jennings received his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card.
Village took the lead for good right on the hour when Robert Wilson’s free kick took a wicked deflection off the body of Crockwell and gave ‘keeper Nathan Darrell absolutely no chance.
Bean, the league’s top goalscorer, then put the match beyond Boulevard’s reach in the 89th minute after getting goalside of youngster Kelvon Butterfield and slotting the ball inside Darrell’s far post.
From the opening whistle Blazers forced their hosts on the back foot, but failed to capitalise on a disorganised Reds defence. Raymond Burgess was the first to go close when he intercepted a poorly headed clearance but hurried his shot wide of the post.
Blazers’ new signing, Lamaul Crofton, then tore a leaf from Burgess’ book as he too hurried a shot wide with the goal at his mercy as the visitors continued to dictate the tempo.
Crofton also had a glancing header cleared away and a piercing through ball sliced wide of the target by a subdued Angelo Simmons.
With chances reduced to a trickle, Village threatened twice to score against the run of play through teenage striker Keishen Bean and the versatile Nakia Smith.
Smith nearly picked up where he left off against Somerset Trojans the week before by bending another beautifully taken free kick just over, while Bean headed just wide after soaring high above the Blazers defence following a quick raid down the right side.
Boulevard’s woes in front of goal continued in the second half as a Chae Simmons corner kick was redirected onto the crossbar. This ultimately proved to be the closest Boulevard came to scoring as their luck finally ran out in the 59th minute shortly after Village stalwart Keith Jennings made his first appearance on the pitch for the new year.
Jennings’ presence seemed to inspire his team-mates while his guile would play a key part in unlocking the Boulevard defence on a brilliant set piece. Ref Francis awarded the home team a disputed free kick after ‘keeper Darrell handled an intended back pass. Jennings slipped a short pass to former Blazer Robert Wilson whose blast ricocheted off Crockwell and into goal.
Yet Boulevard’s worries were just beginning as youngster Bremar was shown the red card four minutes later, reducing the visitors to ten men. Jennings soon followed after receiving a second yellow card for a senseless offence.
Boulevard rallied late with Village ‘keeper Zane Hendrickson positioning himself well to deny a point-blank header from Crockwell. But the visitors’ late revival would be undermined by the inexperience of youngster Butterfield who allowed Ralph Bean to get between himself and goal and tuck the ball into Darrell’s far post.
North Village<$>: Z.Hendrickson, J.Boyles, N.Smith, R.Wilson, Kofi Dill, K.Dill (K.Jennings, 50 mins), R.Bean jr (J.Simmons, 85 mins), J.Jennings, S.Hollis, K.Bean, D.Degraff (T.Outerbridge, 70 mins).
Boulevard: N.Darrell, J.Payne, J.Samuels, S.Bremar jr, C.Matthews (D.warren, 70 mins), C.Trott, C.Simmons, A.Simmons, R.Burgess (T.walker, 66 mins), S.Crockwell, L.CroftoK.Butterfield, 70 mins)
Yellow cards<$>: Z.Hendrickson, D.Degraff (Village); C.Simmons, S.Crockwell (Boulevard)
Red cards: J.Jennings (Vile); S.Bremar (Boulevard)
Men of the match<$>: R.Bean jr (Village); J.Samuels (Boulevard).
Referee: Anthony Francis.
