This Is Guernsey

By Rob Batiste

Priaulx League 2, Gloucestershire League 0

IT TOOK Steve Ogier three minutes to realise Guernsey should beat the men from the west country. It took his side 46 to do something about it. But once Dave Rihoy, the best player in the home side and a point recognised by Gloucestershire League boss Tony Cornelius, shot the greens ahead within seconds of the start of the second period, the home crowd could sit back on their cold seats in the Track stand and relax a little.

Scott Bradford’s 72nd minute shot from the edge of the box made the game safe.

‘The best side won,’ Cornelius was quick to admit.

‘The first half we had reason to come in reasonably pleased, but our boys haven’t trained together and it showed,’ he added.

‘Your number seven [Rihoy] was different class, but that said, my gran could have told you that and she knows nothing about football.’

Ogier admitted to much frustration.

‘I knew after three minutes we should win, but they relaxed.

‘They took their foot off the pedal and were waiting for things to happen.

‘But [in the second half] I got a good response from the lads.’

On a bitter night and in front of another disappointing crowd of around 150, Sam Cochrane led out the Guernsey side lacking its two main leaders, the ineligible Kevin Graham and injured Matt Warren.

The latter was particularly missed when, after a promising opening where the greens were knocking the ball around confidently, Guernsey lost their way for much of the half.

For 15 minutes or so they were all over the place and from a corner one expected the Guernsey net to bulge as a near-post effort came off the head of a Gloucestershire player.

Thankfully, for the home side, the ball smashed into the advertising hoardings and not the net.

By then Dominic Heaume had already missed a great chance.

With just the keeper to beat at the far post, he failed to beat Kevin Sibley and Gloucestershire were let off.

They had another big let off on 34min.

Ross Allen had previously had a fine effort saved at the near post by Sibley, when Rihoy was found unmarked, right of centre, 10 yards out with the goal gaping.

He took a touch to control instead of shooting first time and the delay gave Sibley the chance to scramble back into position and save superbly.

At the other end Guernsey had become increasingly jittery and in one Gloucestershire attack Leighton Chainey kicked off the line from Richard James.

On the brink of half-time Allen skilfully turned inside a fullback and rifled a blistering effort towards the near top corner only for Sibley to make another fantastic save.

Gloucestershire were there for the taking but the home side were making hard work of it to suggest a half-time change of personnel.

But it was the same 11 that came out after the break and within 30sec. were climbing all over Rihoy to congratulate him after his left-foot finish at the far post.

Among a plethora of quickfire substitutions the ineffective Chris Mauger was replaced by Joby Bourgaize wide on the right.

Guernsey were finally looking a more effective unit but Gloucestershire were not out of it and Nathan Pattimore had to be alert to race from his line and block Mark Palmer when he danced dangerously into the area and looked likely to score.

But on 72min. Guernsey sewed up the tie.

Allen had just fired over the bar when from the left the greens worked a move and Bradford was found in space centrally 20 yards out.

A quick glance up and the Belgrave took aim in the keeper’s bottom right-hand corner. Sibley had no chance this time.

With better finishing Allen, always lively, would have made it three or four, but the job was done and Guernsey are through into the next round.

Teams:

Sure Mobile Priaulx League: Pattimore 6; Martin 6, Chainey 6, Cochrane 6, McKenzie 6; Mauger 4 (Bourgaize), Le Page 5, Bradford 7, RIHOY 8; Heaume 5 (Young), Allen 6.

Surridge Gloucestershire County League: SIBLEY, Blunden, Lippiatt, Windows, Palmer, Howells, Lang (J. Berry), M. Berry (Lee), Liddell, James, Harris (Cattle).

Referee: N. Lugg (Surrey) 7.

Assistants: P. Burton and S. Earl (Surrey).

Fourth official: G. Greening.