This Is Guernsey

North 1, St Martin’s 1

A DRAMATIC clash at Northfield last night proved that this season is going to be a close run affair. In an even contest, North felt they had edged it when they were leading at the end of normal time.

But a cracking shot by Saints’ Dom Heaume three minutes into added time meant that the reigning champions had to share the points.

‘Disappointed is an understatement,’ said North boss Mick Le Prevost afterwards.

‘I’m fed up big time that we conceded that goal in stoppage time. It’s all about taking chances.

‘First half we were very sloppy but second half we got it going.’

It was apparent from the kick off that the match was going to have some needle as tackles flew in all round the park.

It was no surprise, therefore, when referee Brent Blondel awarded a penalty after North’s makeshift striker Craig Young was brought down in the area by the Saints’ defence.

Up stepped the home side’s spot-kick specialist Stuart Polson to take on Saints’ own expert penalty stopper, keeper Nathan Pattimore, and it was the 2005 Muratti hero Pattimore who came out on top as he comfortably saved Polson’s weak low shot.

This triggered a reaction in Saints as they proceeded to run the show until half-time.

Chris Le Noury had two diamond chances in quick succession around the half-an-hour mark when he had free header that went just wide and a close range shot that hit the post from a super Jason Winch cross.

New arrival Winch played up front instead of his usual wing spot and was impressive again.

He very nearly put the black-and-whites ahead five minutes before half-time when he slid in on the ball from about two yards out but somehow North keeper Richard Davey managed to gather it up as he covered the shot.

A different North side came out for the second half and just before an hour of play they took the lead through Glyn Dyer with a succulent volley.

The winger had another good game and island manager Steve Ogier, who was part of the good crowd, must be taking notice.

The chocolate-and-blues’ summer signing from Rovers Jamie Ferbrache also started to come into his own.

The striker did well to catch up with the ball going down the slope before setting up Craig Young who then blazed over the bar.

But Matt Dorrian’s wasted effort was even worse a few minutes later when Ferbrache fed him the ball. Dorrian really should have scored instead of putting it harmlessly wide.

The intensity of the match remained high and North’s Gavin Le Page was lucky to see the end of it on the pitch.

The combative midfielder saw a yellow card in the first half but that did nothing to curtail his challenges.

While Le Page was happy putting the boot in, his midfield partner Alex Le Prevost had a quiet time.

It was always going to be interesting to see how he matched up against Saints’ own promising central midfielder Ben Coulter but he definitely came off second best last night.

And just he and his North team mates were looking forward to getting off the pitch to celebrate the win, Heaume popped up with a curling shot from outside the area to catch Davey off his line after Paul Page had failed to clear the danger properly.

‘I thought we played very well especially in the first half,’ said Saints assistant coach Glyn Smith. ‘We created lots of chances and we could have been a couple of goals up.

‘Second half we lost too much possession but we kept taking the game to them. I thought we deserved our point.’

Article posted on 11th October, 2007 - 12.00am