Boulevard 1 PHC Zebras 0

Acting Boulevard coach Richard Todd praised his team's watertight defensive display that took the sting out of PHC and enhanced Blazers' Premier Division Dudley Eve hopes at Police Field yesterday.

In a match neither team were able to take full control of, it eventually took Angelo Simmons' first-half goal and some solid defending by his team-mates to give Todd and his supporting cast the morale-boosting victory needed to make a serious push for cup glory over the festive season.

"Anytime you can keep a clean sheet you have to pleased because if things are not going right for you offensively then you have to make sure you lock things up defensively. And that's exactly what we were able to achieve today," Todd told The Royal Gazette.

Receiving accolades for keeping things tidy at the back for Blazers were full-backs John Payne and Jacqi Simons and centre backs Conneko Trott and Ajani Gibbons, who has made a seamless transition to his new role.

"I thought Ajani had a solid game at the back for us," added Todd.

"The goal we got in the first- half proved to be enough and overall it was a team effort."

Blazers' skipper Takehyi Walker also made a big impact on the match, setting up the game deciding goal and then dropping back deep in his own half after the break to help keep a high octane Zebras in check.

Chae Simmons, making his first start of the season, was also instrumental in Boulevard's slim win orchestrating in the middle of the park where both teams battled the entire match for supremacy.

Former assistant national coach Todd later admitted, though, that this encounter was definitely not one for the football purist with either side able to stamp their authority on proceedings.

"It was an uninspiring match and probably disappointing for the fans, but we will take it," he added.

"We were definitely not at our best and I don't think we played anywhere close to the style we have been playing for the past few weeks.

"I think part of the reason for that may have been trying to integrate three of four college players who are back for the holiday into the team, which takes awhile for them to get settled and click.

"It was just the first game of the tournament and now it is important for us to move on from here.

"We will go back to the training field and work on some things and hopefully come out and play a bit better in our next match."

Blazers will also be monitoring the progress of striker Melchisedec Gibbons who limped off injured after taking a slight knock.

"Melchisedec will be alright, he just needs a little rest," added Todd.

PHC took the match to their opponents from the outset, but found themselves trailing before they could even direct a shot on target as Simmons converted what proved to be the game decider.

A piercing through ball played up the middle split the Zebras defence in two, giving Walker a free run at goal.

Zebras' 'keeper Jay Smith raced off his line and parried Walker's initial blast.

But the Blazers captain was first to the loose ball and Simmons forced his well-measured cross over the line at the second attempt.

Moments later forward Jason Davis, one of four college kids involved in the match, blew a golden chance to stretch his team's lead when he shot directly in the arms of Smith after getting behind a static Zebras defence.

Though few and far between, PHC did create chances of their own with Kevin Lambe's back post header soaring just wide of the upright.

Zebras' best chance of the match fell to Jamaican striker Seion Givans who should have done better when given time and space in the box.

Positioned directly in front of goal, rather then unleash Givans attempted to dribble his way past a defender and eventually had the ball cleared off his boot. It was a sequence of events that perhaps best summed up his team's afternoon against a stubborn Blazers defence that held firm to the end.

Boulevard will now meet Dandy Town at Wellington Oval on Boxing Day where the eventual winner will advance to the New Year's Day final at Lords.

Zebras will take on Devonshire Cougars, losers to Hornets last week, December 28 at Devonshire Recreation Club in a match that will see the first team eliminated from the competition.

Boulevard: A.Jjombwe, J.Simons, A.Gibbons, C.Trott, J.Samuels, C.Simmons, J.Davis, T.Walker (capt), M.Gibbons (D.Stovell, 45 mins), A.Simmons (I.Coke, 58 mins), J.Payne.

PHC: J.Smith, B.Bean, C.Dowling, O.Shakir, K.Richards, M.Waldron (C.Castle, 55 mins), C.Furbert (capt), K.Lewis, K.Lambe (A.Grant, 77 mins), S.Givans, C.Robinson (S.Astwood, 55 mins).

Booked: A.Gibbons, C.Simmons (Boulevard); B.Bean, C.Castle (PHC).

Man-of-the-match: A.Gibbons (Boulevard)

Referee: Anthony Mouchette.