Eighteen matches played over six months constitute the local league season, but in just 90 minutes on Saturday night PHC saw their hopes of a second straight title dissolve in a gut-wrenching 3-2 loss to fellow contenders Boulevard.

The Zebras were buried at home under a late flurry by the Blazers, who came from 2-1 down with six minutes left, scoring two goals in as many minutes during a torrid second half of action.

PHC took the early lead through Winston Trott, Jr., after a defensive blunder by Amon Brown allowed Raynel Lightbourne to get in a cross and have the former bundle the ball across the goal-line from close range.

Good work on the right side resulted in Vernon Symonds drawing the visitors level in the 16th minute when he received skipper Albert Smith's pass and scored with a superb, dipping shot from 20 yards.

However, the Zebras recaptured the lead through substitute Shawn Simons midway through the second half and appeared on their way to victory.

That is until first Brian (Bulla) Anderson thundered home a header from Brown's pinpoint cross on the right six minutes from time, making the score even at 2-2. And two minutes later Dwight Warren produced a piece of soccer artistry, jinking past two defenders with an neat flick overhead before volleying the ball past Crockwell.

The result led Boulevard defender Leroy Stevens to boldly predict: "We're taking the FA (Cup) and the League!'' Particularly irritating Stevens was that he viewed people as having disregarded his side after last week's defeat at Somerset. Even after winning seven league games in a row previously.

Said Stevens: "Everybody wrote us off after losing one game, but tonight we've shown that we're back...and we mean business!'' Relieved coach Gary Mallory was a bit more subtle. "We felt from our last game that the intensity wasn't up. Tonight the intensity was there,'' he said.

"What we have to do from here on in is win...one point can't help us, we need two.'' PHC: C.Crockwell; N.Simons, M.Dill, D.Outerbridge, M.Wade; O.Steede, F.Ming, D.Rawlins; R.Lightbourne (S.Simons, 60 mins); K.Mills (M.Trott, 71 mins), W.Trott.

Boulevard: M.Steede; V.Eve, W.Richardson, L.Stevens, D.Boyles; J.Boyles (N.Robinson, 59 mins), A.Smith, B.Anderson; V.Symonds (K.Hill, 81 mins), D.Warren, A.Brown.

Referee: Esten Curtis Men of the match: Ottis Steede (PHC); Amon Brown (Boulevard).