This Is Guernsey

By Rob Batiste

Rangers 0, Sylvans 1

SYLVANS leapfrogged their hosts into fourth spot in the Priaulx table at St Andrew’s as they welcomed back to their ranks - perhaps temporarily - skipper Matt Warren. But having scored a wonderful opportunist goal to give his side the advantage, the island skipper left the park with 35min. still remaining, his problem foot having begun to trouble him again.

But at least Sylvans got nearly an hour and a goal out of their leader.

Rangers lost their own skipper and inspiration, Dave Parrott, inside half-an-hour and once the big man had gone, Rangers, who had been the better side until then, lost their way entirely.

At the final whistle Mac Gallienne wore an angry face and it was not just down to the inadequacies of referee Geoff Carre, who, like most of the red-and-blacks, had a shocker.

‘We were rubbish. The better side won,’ said Gallienne at the final whistle.

In contrast, Martyn de Garis, the Sylvans boss, looked his usual serene self.

Was he happy?

‘Happier,’ was the response.

‘We’ve had a good chat with the players we’ve got left and told them to go out there and perform.

‘The whole team lifts when we’ve got Matt and I’m pleased with the effort and commitment they gave.’

It was far from a classic, especially the second half when the highlights were very few and far between.

Warren had bicycle-kicked the visitors in front just before half-time, with Rangers already looking something of a spent force.

Jon Veron had been very lively and threatening early on but with Parrott having left the field injured, Sylvans gradually took a grip and had chances themselves.

But Ashley Williams, standing in for the unavailable Paul de Garis, was the busier keeper before the break, making a couple of decent stops from Veron and being in the right place when Shane Billien, with the goal at his mercy and Williams out of position, weakly shot straight at the visiting no. 1.

At the other end Sylvans were furious not to be awarded a penalty for handball, which prompted their skipper to scream ‘that’s a disgraceful decision’.

He got away with the remark and so, too, did players from both sides in the second half, with bad tackles going unpunished for far too long.

In the end a frustrated Wayne Bishop went in the book for a high and late challenge on Sam Bird, which deserved red.

Bishop, though, will complain he was the victim of a couple of bad tackles himself to which Carre turned a blind eye.

The second half, generally, was as ugly as Bishop’s tackle, with little craft.

But, in one superb move, Ben Hewlett freed Bishop down the right flank and his powerful drive, destined for the top corner, was superbly finger-tipped over by Chris Parrott.

Tom Strawbridge and Danny Le Page both went close with headers from corners and the former’s superb kick over the top to Eduardo Santana resulted in the Venezuelan lobbing inches over the bar.

Watching it all from the touchline was island defender Michael Wilson, who resumes training next week.

And with Naro Zimmerman’s knee operation having been a success and their university boys soon to return, Sylvans’ fortunes appear to be on the up.

But, on the down side, a shortage of players meant their title-chasing Jackson side gave a walkover to Bels yesterday.