Latest Match - First Team

ST PAULS 3
Russell, Leitch, Walshe
St Peter 1
B. Russell

This match report is going to be the easiest one to write all season. As Champions there is no more worry or nerves just complimentary words about the best squad of players in Jersey.

1ST Half

The team talk was short and sweet, win the game and be crowned champions. St Pauls again missing the islands top keeper Andrew Bird had to go with young Peter Osmand in nets but with the best defence on the island he was going to be well looked after. This could be arguably St Pauls strongest team on paper but they had to deliver the goods. Walshe came in for McConnoll who did so well in the final last week and Russell kept JP out on the right hand side. These two had better justify their selection; and didn’t they just. The 1st half hour was flat as St Pauls struggled to get into their stride and looked a little bit nervous with passes going astray and the game not flowing as they would have liked. Half chances for Leitch and Taylor and no-one getting on the end of both Russell and Lucas crosses. The game needed something and then all of a sudden “woo woo” “BANG” The Train let fly with a left foot volley from 25 yards. The ball whistled past the impressive visitors keeper; but he did not get a sniff as the ball crashed into the roof of the net. What a goal to relax the team and the supporters right on the half hour mark. This gave the boys some much needed confidence and steadied the nervous. Chances started to come thick and fast and if it was not for Gary Lloyd in nets for St Peters this could have been 4 or 5 at the break. A great save from Taylor’s glancing header kept the score at 1-0 then Mark Lucas launched a superb 60 yards diagonal pass to Leitch, who cleverly beat the offside trap despite the screams coming from the St Peters dug-out for offside, the occasion was getting to them both, Aw shame!

Leitch took one touch and sucked in the defender, waited for the challenge, slipped the ball passed young Crowell and penalty; classic forward play. Of course Leitch slotted the penalty to make it 2-0 just before half time.

2nd Half

St Peters came out the blocks and switched to 3 upfront , up a real go; but as every other team that has tried to get the better of our colossal defend they did not get much change. But to be fair they did get in behind El nino but only because he slipped and the boy tried to nose the ball out the pitch only for Scott Walsh to cut the ball back to Bradley Russell to score from 6 inches. St Peters then thought they would turn screw and went 4 upfront and this was to be the final nail in their coffin and the St Pauls management team calmly changed their formation to 4-4-2; as they did in the final against Trinity. Fitzy went to left back and Luke McClone to right back and clam was resumed. With 4-4-2 being a system that suits St Pauls they were able to move the ball around again and it would only be a matter of time before their quality shone through again. JP came on for Taylor and McConnoll came on for Watson and it was McConnoll that turned the game with his brave tackling and positive attitude he grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and pushed his team on. Walshe had someone to do his defencive running that allowed him to get forward and show his quality. Fitzy played a great ball into the box that got half cleared then Walshe hit a sweet left foot volley into the bottom corner. 3.1 Thank you very much one league please!!! The supports, Committee, Management and the ref ……, sorry not the ref, went wild. The game could not finish quick enough for the visitors as they knew there was no way back. This was a great team/squad effort and young Rupert Murray came on for the final 5 minutes.