Hotels snatched an impressive two points away from Boulevard with their inspired play as Coolridge (Bumla) Bell led the goal-scoring raid at Southampton Oval.

From the opening whistle, Hotels set about their task stringing many fine passes together as they repeatedly challenged the Boulevard defenders. Time and time again, Hotels exploited the left side of the Blazer defence as their forward line consisting of Ricky Hill, Stevie Dickinson and Bell constantly pushed forward the attack.

Eight minutes into the match, Hotels made Boulevard pay for their lackadaisical attitude and shoddy marking when they were awarded a free kick from 30 yards out on the right side of the Boulevard goal.

Derek Bell took the direct kick, a high, arching lob, which looked more like a pass than a shot. Somehow, the ball found its way in the upper right-hand corner of the net without a challenge from either an offensive player or a defender.

This goal should have served as the Boulevard wake-up call. However, this was not to be for two minutes later Hotels were on the attack again.

Hill picked up a loose ball in midfield and fed a sideline pass to the on-rushing Bell who went past one defender and calmly slotted the ball home from three yards out.

It was not until the 20th minute of play when Boulevard were finally able to play the kind of ball so characteristic of their style in seasons past. In the 26th minute Maurice Smith worked a superb one-two with Dwight Warren who took on two Hotels defenders but had his shot blocked by Derek Bell.

Four minutes later, Hotels' Philip Smith failed to clear from his penalty area. The ball rolled to Boulevard's Warren Iris who shot wide of Randy Darrell's goal.

During the 33rd minute of play a fine run down the right flank by Boulevard's Amon Brown saw him pass to Warren who dribbled across field and unleashed a fierce shot that saw Darrell barely deflect the ball away from goal. The shot proved to be Boulevard's last in the first half.

After the 58th minute Boulevard made a double substitution bringing on Sinclair Boyles and Wayne Hollis for Warren Iris and Maurice Smith.

At the 62nd minute mark Hotels were rewarded with their third goal as Bell, demonstrating nifty footwork down the right wing, got by a defender and fired in from six yards out.

The game saw its first yellow card as Hotels' Derek Scott was whistled for a nasty foul on Warren. Scott was very fortunate not to be given his walking papers a minute later when he delivered another uncomplimentary tackle on Cyril Steede.

In the 70th minute Hotels' brought on Troy Bassett for Myron Piper. The move appeared to revive the attack. However, Boulevard in like fashion picked up the pace and were rewarded with their first goal on a magnificient shot from the right side of the penalty area by Brown.

The goal was a direct result of some combination passes between Steede and Warren who had been a pest the entire game to Hotels' defence along the left wing.

Hotels: R.Darrell, D.Bell, P.Smith, D.Scott, C.Bell, M.Piper, C.Sabir, S.Dickinson, R.Hill, F.Greaves, E.Simmons (T.Bassett, 73 mins).

Boulevard: J.Gibbons, D.Boyles, K.Darrell, C.Steede, V.Symonds, A.Brown, D.Warren, W.Iris (S.Boyles, 58 mins), V.Eve, J.Boyles, M.Smith (W.Hollis, 58 mins).

Referee: Rex Osborne.

Men of the match: Coolridge Bell (Hotels), Dwight Warren (Boulevard).