Boulevard returned from their self-imposed exile to clinch a point that calmed any lingering relegation fears at a decidely damp St John's Field yesterday.

But they might have left the ground disappointed that they didn't have all three from a game in which they made the better chances and twice held the lead before Dandy Town goals, both with a measure of controversy about them, pegged them back.

There was no sign that Boulevard, who had failed to show for their previous two matches, would opt out this time -- the only threat to the game being the torrential rain before kick-off which had referee Gary Cooke admitting the surface was "virtually unplayable''.

However, both teams seemed keen to get back into action, and with the BFA executive yesterday finally issuing their decisions on the abandoned and boycotted games, it can only be hoped that the brilliant sunshine in which the game ended was a symbol of better times ahead.

Boulevard held the upper hand in the early skirmishes on a hard but greasy surface and should have scored twice through Vernon Phillips before he eventually got on the scoresheet at the third attempt moments later.

First, he had plenty of time to line up his shot when Vernon Eve passed to him in space on the right edge of the area, but his first touch was poor and his resulting drive was worse, skewing well wide of Mitchell Steede's left hand post.

Seconds later, he almost got onto the end of Warren's cross from deep, but in the 25th minute he was in the right place in front of goal when Eve's cross was miskicked back across the six-yard box by Shakai Crockwell and he gratefully thundered the ball into the roof of the net.

Three minutes later, though, Town, lacking top scorer Darron Simons and with the tricky Reggie Tucker on the bench, were level.

A long throw from the left bounced up and hit Dean Boyles on the arm and despite his protests that it was inadvertent, Cooke pointed to the spot and Cecil Wilkinson shot low to Steede's right.

The Blazers were denied the lead again when Boyles tried to make amends with a neat free kick from 25 yards that forced Antoine Lightbourne into a spectacular save. But they did regain it four minutes after the interval, paradoxically following a brief period of pressure from Dandy Town, as Dwight Warren picked up a loose ball about 12 yards out on the right and fired low across Antoine Lightbourne and into the right hand corner.

Town brought on Tucker and Carlos Smith with half an hour remaining and the latter missed a great opportunity to equalise in the 65th minute when he turned to meet Seyoum Tuzo's low cross but lifted his effort over the bar.

But Smith was credited with the controversial leveller ten minutes from time.

He found himself in space running into the Boulevard box and looked to be trying to cross the ball back for supporting players. But his effort caught him and perhaps goalkeeper Steede, who otherwise had a fine game, by surprise and travelled low towards the near post.

Steede tried to twist his body, already committed to the opposite direction, back towards the ball and seemed to have just about gathered it on the line by his upright. But linesman Lawrence DeShields was right on the goal-line and immediately signalled it had crossed.

Dandy Town: A.Lightbourne, L.Furbert, W.Rudo, G.Gibbons (R.Swan 65 mins), L.Simmons, S.Tuzo, Devarr Boyles (R.Tucker 58 mins), P.Cann, M.Smith, M.Trott (C.Smith 58 mins), C.Wilkinson.

Boulevard: M.Steede, L.Stevens, V.Eve, R.Wilson, K.Darrell, J.Samuels, Dean Boyles, D.Samuels (A.Brown 66 mins), S.Crockwell, D.Warren, V.Phillips.

Referee: Gary Cooke .

Men of the match: Seyoum Tuzo (Town); Dean Boyles (Boulevard).

On the move: Dandy Town striker McLee Smith pulls away from Boulevard's Dean Boyles during yesterday's 2-2 draw at St John's field.