PHC Zebras 2

Boulevard 3

Teiko Lowe's late winner gave ten man Boulevard a 3-2 win over PHC in the opening match of the Dudley Eve at BAA Field yesterday.

Boulevard had goalkeeper Randy Broadbelt – who conceded two penalties – dismissed early in the second half for an apparent elbow on PHC striker Lloyd Holder.

The Blazers' keeper had given away a penalty in the very first minute when he kicked out at PHC's Jeff Franklin while collecting a cross.

Fortunately for Broadbelt his blushes were spared with PHC winger Cecoy Robinson missing the ensuing spot-kick.

Putting their early setback behind them, Boulevard struck the first blow when skipper Angelo Simmons slotted home from close range in the fourth minute.

Damali Bell then doubled Blazers' lead seven minutes later when he stroked home from Aaron Nelso's cross.

But PHC fought back with Holder reducing their deficit in the 18th minute when he latched onto a long ball from Stevie Astwood and calmly finished past Broadbelt.

After the break Broadbelt was once again in the thick of the action when he seemed to elbow Holder while coming for a catch. Referee Ronue Cann had no hesitation in pointing to the spot before dismissing Broadbelt.

Holder then dusted himself down to step up and fire past stand-in keeper Coneiko Trott to draw PHC level.

Neither team looked like grabbing a winner until Lowe headed home Simmons' cross to settle the game.

A relieved Simmons hopes the victory will serve as a confidence boost ahead of his side's opening league match against Devonshire Colts next weekend.

"It's a well-earned victory, we worked hard after being down a man for a large part of the second half," said Simmons.

"We were trying to maintain a competitive edge being up two nil and then had a defensive lapse at the back. The match was still in our favour until Randy got sent off, from there we had to do some adjusting."

And Simmons believes Blazers can be a force this season.

"A lot of people were writing us off, but as you can see that with the team we had today, minus five starters that are out with injuries, we can compete with anyone."

PHC: R.Glasford, C.Robinson, L.Holder, (B.Bean, 72), S.Astwood, J.Franklin, C.Robinson, J.Sealy, C.Dowling, K.Griffith, (J.Ball,33), R.Richardson, M.Lambe, (K.Lambe, 59)

Substitutes not used: K.Lightbourne, Q.Hunt, Q.Burgess, I.Sharrieff

Goals: L.Holder 18, 49

Boulevard: R.Broadbelt, D.Bell, N.Smith, R.Burgess, M.Parsons, C.Trott, A.Simmons, A.Gibbons, N.Smith, T.Lowe, A.Nelson (T.Wilson, 81)

Substitutes not used: D.Taylor, D.Simmons, A.Francis

Goals: A. Simmons, 4, D.Bell, 11, T.Lowe, 85.

Red card: R.Broadbelt, 49

Referee: R.Cann

Man-of-the-Match: A.Nelson (Blazers)