Bels 4, North 1
A BELS rout had looked on the cards. When Micky Ogier’s side got two early goals against North, who with their well-publicised injury problems were short a number of key players, a cricket score was threatening.
But as is the way sometimes, a winning team can take their foot of the pedal and can have a scare.
In temperatures last night more reminiscent of the Baltic than the Corbet Field, Bels got their first goal within the first 10 minutes - a lovely cross in by Brent Marqaund that was met by Sam Cochrane with a free header.
And Cochrane was instrumental in the second goal a few minutes later when he headed down a corner to Dave Rihoy, who gladly volleyed it into the back of the net.
Yet going 2-0 up and clearly looking the better team, Bels for some reason decided to bicker among themselves.
This allowed North to get a foot in the door and they came close through Jacques Isabelle when the Manchester Met student’s shot beat Bels keeper Scott Rowe but, unfortunately for the midfielder, the far post as well.
Bels responded a couple of minutes later, when livewire forward Marc McGrath broke free and then beautifully laid the ball off to Paul Ramsden in a cracking position to score, but the wide player took too long and the chance was wasted.
That led to more arguing and they certainly had something to get riled about when, five minutes from half-time, North got one back after applying some pressure.
Rowe had done well to parry a Craig Young shot round the post for a corner from which diminutive North striker Jamie Ferbrache found the goal with his own free header.
North were now in ascendancy and it carried into the second half.
Minutes in, Young almost put them level with a lovely bit of magic but his shot was just wide.
The chocolate-and-blues tried all they liked, but they were continually turned back by Bels’ defence who were well marshalled by skipper Leighton Chainey.
At the other end of the pitch, the North backline, who have looked shaky in the last few weeks, were no different yesterday evening.
On the hour mark, a misunderstanding between veteran Stuart Polson and keeper Richard Davey allowed McGrath in but his shot hit the side netting.
The impressive Isabelle then came close to scoring but his shot blazed just over.
However, that was soon followed by Bels stretching their lead.
After some good build up play down the right flank, the ball made its way to Matt Drillot in the area who had time to pick his spot.
Drillot, who again looked class in the centre of the park for Bels, may feel hard done by not to have picked up the man-of-the-match award that went to Chainey.
The goal was a real sucker punch for North who had gone three up front to try and get something out of the final.
Bels then rubbed salt in the wounds deep into added time.
Robbie Williams could have claimed the fourth, but he admitted that Drillot’s effort had already crossed the line.
Article posted on 3rd January, 2008 - 12.00am
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