Somerset Eagles 1 Boulevard 2

Boulevard claimed victory against Somerset Eagles in a hard-fought match at White Hill Field yesterday.

The visiting side took a two-goal lead in the first half thanks to strikes from Ian Coke and Antoine Famous, before Eagles made things interesting when Tristan Smith scored midway through the second half.

In the third minute, Ian Coke, the Boulevard striker, managed to find space in the area and curled in a shot that beat the Eagles goalkeeper.

Boulevard’s first goal clearly caught Eagles cold, and then the visiting side almost grabbed a second but Coke’s shot struck the post in the seventh minute.

In the eighteenth minute, the game had to be held up after Khimo Harrison, the Eagles left winger, sustained a head injury after a collision with a Boulevard defender when challenging for a loose ball.

Harrison, who had also sustained a head injury earlier in the season in a game against Robin Hood, had to be taken off the field to receive treatment.

The Eagles medical staff applied a bandage to Harrison’s head to stop the blood that was gushing out, but Harrison was unable to continue.

In the 35th minute, Boulevard were awarded a free kick, which Ijahmon Mallory took. Mallory fooled the Eagles wall by making it seem like he was going to go for the shot himself, but instead he expertly dropped the ball into a dangerous area that left Famous with the simplest task of heading it home to increase his side’s lead.

Eagles found some momentum which was rewarded when midfielder Smith scored after combining with substitute Cardel Henry in the 69th minute.

Eagles almost fell further behind when TiaeVince Douglas got on the end of a cross in the box. However, the Boulevard substitute, somehow put his shot wide with just the goalkeeper to beat.

Eagles would have two further chances late on to draw level, however Boulevard held on for the three points.

SCORERS

Somerset Eagles

Smith 69

Boulevard

Coke 3, Famous 35

TEAMS

Somerset Eagles (4-3-3): L Lambert — D Riley-Clarke, R Quinn, G Smith, A Furbert (sub: S James, 46min) — A Telford, T Smith, T Harvey — K Fray, D Simmons (sub: A Bean, 55), K Harrison (sub: C Henry, 24). Substitutes not used: K Evans, J Santos. Booked: none.

Boulevard (4-3-3): D Chambers — J Crockwell, S Worrell (sub: N Smith, 75min), Z Stovell, J Williams — I Mallory, K Smith, D Taylor — A Foggo (sub: T Douglas, 66), I Coke, A Famous (sub: T Butterfield, 81). Substitutes not used: S Fostin. Booked: Chambers, Douglas.

Referee: Cassandra