The performance won't put fear in their next opponents, but Boulevard turned an important corner yesterday at Wellington Oval when Stevie Wade's second goal of the match 12 seconds into injury time gave them their first win of the season.

It was a deserving win, too, as St. George's often looked imept defensively and paid the price for some casual defending with the seconds ticking away on referee Rex Osborne's watch.

"The level of play is just starting to come around, but we missed out on some opportunities,'' said captain Neil (Diamond) Robinson at the end of the win which avenged a 2-1 loss to St. George's on their last visit to the Oval last season.

Robinson watched Wade wrap up the two points from the bench, having gone off in the 83rd minute with a pulled hamstring, though he is optimistic of being ready for tomorrow night's Martonmere Cup semi-final against North Village.

Yesterday's win should restore some lost confidence within the team, although there is still some way to go.

"We saw some opportunities go to waste, otherwise this will be a turning point for us,'' the midfielder added. "It's a start, and we needed to win.'' Coming off a 4-1 hammering at the hands of North Village last week, Boulevard looked determined to put things right as they took the game to their hosts in the opening minutes. Wade volleyed over with his first chance in the fourth minute and moments later goalkeeper Troy Hall made an important interception with his feet after Vernon Eve had got through.

The St. George's problems were evident right from the outset -- no cohesion in their defence which was missing Phillip Bailey (off the Island) but with Herbie Bascome in as his replacement on his debut.

With Boulevard continuing to control things, the home team had substitutes Chae Simmons and Leroy Robinson warming up by the 27th minute, with Robinson eventually replacing Darrin Walker for the start of the second half.

The goal that Boulevard threatened to score finally came in the 49th minute -- after St. George's themselves went close with two good chances within seconds inside the first two minutes of the second half.

The first fell to Dean Minors who put his shot straight at Mitchell Steede after the out-of-position 'keeper was exposed by some bad defending. Moments later Ricky Hill shot wide of an open goal with Steede off his line.

The home team paid the price when they failed to clear from a corner on the right and Steve Wade hit a low left foot shot that curled through a mass of players and went inside the far post.

However, the smiles did not stay long on the faces of the Boulevard fans as St. George's equalised four minutes later with one of their best moves of the afternoon. Dwayne Richardson fed a long ball over the halfway line to Clay Smith who raced through and hit a scorching left foot volley into the roof of the net from 18 yards.

Tempers frayed after that as Stevie Wade and Carlos Greaves of St. George's had to be kept apart by players from both teams as referee Rex Osborne was attending to the injured Andre Todd who was eventually replaced by Kervin Moreno.

Boulevard continued to look threatening while St. George's also kept their sights on the two points as Smith got in a cross which Hill shot weakly at the 'keeper. Smith then put a shot wide of the near post after Richardson set him up.

Both teams got more cautious in the final five minutes but it was Boulevard who were successful in their push for a late winner, Wade coming up with the goods right on full time when substitute Ross Lambe and Warren were both involved in the play and Wade coolly slotted the ball inside the far post past the diving Hall. It was his fifth goal of the season, all of them having come in Boulevard's last four matches.

Kenny Hill, just back from a one-match suspension because of three bookings, collected another in the first half for dissent. He had a quiet game in the Boulevard attack and was substituted in the second half.

St. George's: T.Hall; A.Todd (K.Moreno 64 mins), D.Bailey, H.Bascome, F.Greaves; D.Walker (L.Robinson 45 mins), C.Greaves, D.Richardson; D.Minors, R.Hill, C.Smith.

Boulevard: M.Steede; D.Boyles, A.Caisey, D.Charles, L.Stevens; G.Smith, V.Eve, N.Robinson (V.Symonds 83 mins); S.Wade, K.Hill (R.Lambe 68 mins), D.Warren.

Referee: Rex Osborne.

Men of the match: Clay Smith (St. George's), George Smith (Boulevard).