Sammy Swan came out of retirement to help struggling PHC return to their winning ways yesterday at St. David's.

The Zebras coach put himself in the starting line-up for the first time this season, and justified that decision by scoring the opening goal early in the second half.

Stephen Astwood's 71st minute strike made sure of the points for PHC who reclaimed second place in the standings with their first league win since November 27.

PHC, without the likes of Ricky Mallory, Otis Steede and Enwar Hunt, are still some way short of their best form, though the victory will give them a tremendous boost in the confidence department.

Boulevard, on the other hand, will see this as a lost opportunity to close the gap on teams above them in the standings.

After the Blazers failed to capitalise on a couple of early corners, PHC had their best chance when Swan's cross from the right went over the head of goalkeeper Kimwandae Walker and wide of the far post with no one following up.

Walker's hand and then the crossbar denied the Zebras a goal in the 13th minute when Dano Outerbridge was allowed a free header inside the box to a Swan corner on the left. The goalbound ball was pushed against the underside of the crossbar by Walker before coming back out.

Boulevard continued to force a number of corners themselves after that but failed to capaitalise as PHC went close again when Chris Furbert's 30-yarder rose inches over the bar. Then in the final minute of the half Boulevard went closest to scoring when, from Vernon Eve's corner on the left, Mitchell Trott's header hit the post.

PHC, forced to replace the injured Outerbridge in the first half, made another substitution at the start of the second half when Raynel Lightbourne came on for the limping Kenny Mills. Boulevard introduced more speed into their attack by replacing Jahmal Samuels with Shaki Crockwell and then Vernon Phillips for the veteran Dion Wainwright.

PHC were beginning to apply the bulk of the pressure as Furbert put a shot wide after Swan laid on Vic Ball's cross for him inside the box. Then Astwood put a shot straight at Walker after another opening was created.

The deadlock was finally broken eight minutes into the second half when the 38-year-old Swan pounced on a mistake inside the box by Leroy Stevens to score with a blast into the far bottom corner.

That goal helped ease the PHC nerves and two minutes later they almost had another goal when Astwood squared to the far post where Swan pulled the ball back for Furbert whose sidefoot was kept out by Walker's legs.

The tiring Swan took himself off in the 75th minute, but not before PHC had doubled their lead with Astwood's goal four minutes earlier. A good ball from thet middle by Furbert was chested down by the striker who then took his chance well with a firm shot into the far corner.

The young striker missed an even easier chance one minute from the end, though thankfully for his team the points were already in the bag. Lightbourne did well on the left to create the opening and the unmarked Astwood met the cross 10 yards from goal, only to sidefoot over the bar.

Boulevard: K.Walker; V.Eve, L.Stevens, M.Trott, A.Brown, J.Payne, D.Boyles, Di.Wainwright (V.Phillips 54 mins), M.Holdipp (M.Hewey 75 mins), S.Wade, J.Samuels (S.Crockwell 47 mins).

PHC: C.Crockwell; C.Dowling, R.Lewis, D.Outerbridge (S.Lewis 25 mins), De.Wainwright, C.Furbert, A.Washington, V.Ball, K.Mills (R.Lightbourne 46 mins), S.Swan (E.Dowling 75 mins), S.Astwood.

Referee: Irven Simmons.

Men of the match: Mitchell Trott (Boulevard), Chris Furbert (PHC).

Yellow card: Corey Dowling.