This Is Guernsey

By Rob Batiste

WHO needs a man of the moment, when you have a ready-made replacement? Bels arrived at St Peter’s without top striker Marc McGrath, but in scoring terms they did not miss the hotshot at all, Neil Clegg hitting five as the visitors moved a step nearer their second Priaulx League championship in three seasons.

This was Clegg the ace poacher, taking full advantage of a terribly lax Sylvans backline, who went to sleep time and again and were duly punished for it.

But on a day of appalling defending in front of Paul de Garis’ goal, Clegg made hay before leaving the action late on, nursing bruised ribs after having crashed into the Sylvans keeper in scoring his fifth.

With McGrath missing - his partner had given birth to a baby girl only hours earlier - Clegg started up front alongside the fit-again American, Mark Laws.

But Bels’ initial concern was at the other end where after just 90sec. they failed to clear a long throw and after several blocked Sylvans hacks at the loose ball, Tom Duff found a yard of space in a packed box and a gap to fire past Rhys Gower: 1-0.

The champions-elect were rattled and every time Sylvans put a high ball into the box, Bels were looking vulnerable.

But on 22min. the visitors hit back.

Dave Rihoy skinned Ben Hewlett down Bels’ left and having cut in on the diagonal, he fired a shot across the face of goal where Clegg slid in to make sure.

Two minutes later the visitors were ahead.

Scott Bradford got past stand-in left back Blane Queripel all too easily and a deft chip into the heart of the box was helped on by Laws as far as Clegg, who finished from close in.

Sam Cochrane nearly added a third but de Garis made a fine tip-over save to keep out the powerful header.

However, back came Sylvans and having had two efforts cleared off the line, they levelled on 31min.

Bels again failed to clear a corner and Matt Warren lashed in a fine left-foot effort which found the far corner.

But there was no doubt which half-time team talk was the more effective.

Sylvans were on the back foot from the moment the excellent Brent Blondel blew to start the second period and on 54min. Clegg took advantage of more poor defending to lob the third.

On 63min. Clegg scored the goal of the game, a left-foot 25-yarder which found the far corner and on 69 got a fifth.

Two minutes later Piers Ockleford scored a third Sylvans goal to give his side faint hope of a revival, but they hardly threatened again and two minutes from the final whistle Laws back-heeled a sixth in another crowded six-yard box.