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Beach saves Hornets with last-gasp strike

Dandy Town 2 Boulevard 2Raymond Beach struck in the final minute with a close range volley to salvage a draw for title hopefuls Dandy Town against Boulevard in a scrappy game at St. John’s Field yesterday.Boulevard were just moments away from pulling off a surprise victory against the defending champions before Damon Ming picked out Beach with a pin-point cross to level the score.In-form striker Beach had given the Hornets an early first half lead with a neat finish past Blazers goalkeeper Shejuan Swan following good work down the left wing by Ricky Saltus.But Blazers were soon on level terms when Angelo Simmons’ cross found burly markson Temiko Wilson who beat Hornets keeper Antoine Lightbourne soon after. Blazers’ top scorer Wilson added to his season’s tally midway through the second period when he latched onto a through ball from deep before sliding the ball into the bottom corner of the net.Wilson’s goal left an extra bitter taste in the mouth for Hornets who had a penalty claim turned down during the previous passage of play when Jahleel Crockwell appeared to have handled in the area.With his team a goal down, Hornets coach Jomar Wilkinson responded by immediately bringing on substitute Lashun Dill whose pace posed problems for Blazers’ defence during an anxious finale for the visitors.But with Ajani Gibbons defending resolutely at the heart of Blazers’ backline it appeared as though Hornets were heading to a damaging defeat before Ming’s cross was expertly turned in by Beach.Hornets coach Jomar Wilkinson admitted he was more than happy with a point given the circumstances.“I’m delighted to get a draw out of this game as it seemed like we weren’t going to get anything,” he said. “I knew it was going to be a scrappy game because of the muddy conditions and it seemed as though they wanted it more than us.”Beach, who last week bagged a brace against Village in Hornets 2-1 win over the league leaders, was praised for his goalscoring heroics by his coach.“(Beach) was there again for us today. He’s in great form and hopefully he will go from strength to strength this season.”Dandy Town: A Lightbourne, G Dyer, K Tucker, F Frankson, J Peniston, S Darrell, D Ming, T Daniels (L Dill, 75), R Saltus (Z Tuzo, 78), R Beach. Subs not used: K Lathan.Goals: Beach 15, 90Boulevard: S Swan, A Gibbons, T Wilson, A Simmons, J Davis, A Foggo, R Wilson, K Lathan, S Furbert, T Walker, J Crockwell. Subs not used: T Stovell, Z Stovell, N Smith, D Butler.Goals: Wilson 19, 67Referee: E HolmesMan of the match: R Beach