Ijahmon Mallory emerged as the unlikeliest of heroes at BAA Field yesterday where he converted the game's only goal to send leaders Devonshire Cougars three points clear at the top of the Premier Division.

The towering defender turned in a probing cross from the right past a partially unsighted Andrew Jjombwe to keep the Big Cats on course for a third league title in five-seasons and put a serious dent in Blazers' own league title aspirations.

Mallory's tally might not have been the shot heard around the world. But it was enough to give Cougars a well-deserved victory over a Blazers side that never fired on all cylinders.

Cougars' winner came from a sustained spell of pressure and eventually Darius Cox whipped the ball across the middle where the unmarked Mallory volleyed his side ahead.

"I just kept my eye on the ball and was able to execute," Mallory said. "It was always going to be a tough game because Boulevard have some decent players.

"But I thought we wanted it more and all that matters now is that we got three more valuable points. Now it's back to training to prepare for PHC."

Cougars had a goal disallowed for off-side later in the second-half and missed a golden opportunity to put the match away in the 88th minute when they were awarded a penalty.

Blazers' Ugandan 'keeper Jjombwe sent sub Lamont Brangman crashing to the canvas but redeemed himself when he guessed correct and saved Tumani Steede's spotkick diving to his left, to set up a nervous finish.

Steede's miss might have been costly as Blazers applied pressure at the death. But as had been the case for most of the afternoon the home team lacked cutting edge in attack and Cougars eventually held on for the crucial win to widen their cushion at the top.

Neither side managed to take control of the game in a first half in which chances came and went unconverted.

Blazers striker Angelo Simmons drew a smart save from Ricardo Brangman, and Jason Davis fired weakly at the goalkeeper as Boulevard made the early running.

Cougars created chances of their own, and only the inspirational defending of Ajani Gibbons denied them. Kor-Von Tucker chipped the ball over Jjombwe, only to see Gibbons race back and clear it off the line.

The Blazers skipper couldn't be everywhere however, and was powerless to stop Mallory settling the game.

Boulevard: A.Jjombwe, J.Payne, C.Trott, A.Gibbons, J.Samuels, H.Burrows, J.Davis, A.Simmons, T.Walker (capt), D.Stovell (K.Bean, 78 mins), M.Parsons (N.Smith, 88 mins).

Devonshire Cougars: R.Brangman, J.Butterfield, D.Cox, K.Franks, I.Mallory (L.Brangman, 59 mins), T.Steede, M.Steede (Mark Steede, 74 mins), R.Robinson, D.Coddington, K.Tucker, K.Steede (capt).

Booked: K.Franks (Cougars)

Man of the match: A.Gibbons

Referee: A Mouchette.