IT WAS far from vintage Bels, but they got the job done on what is likely to prove the decisive afternoon in the Priaulx League title race. Both coaches felt that a draw would have been a fairer reflection on what was mediocre fare compared to that which they usually serve up, but goal poacher supreme Neil Clegg settled it in favour of the hosts.
In typical Micky Ogier fashion, though, the Bels coach emphasised that the Priaulx Cup had not been regained yet.
‘We have still got to go out to win every game,’ he said.
‘We are working hard all around the park. We battled well today and came away with the three points, although to be honest it should have been a draw.’
Ogier was certainly grateful that despite being shorn of Marc McGrath, who was in London for the weekend, and the injured Mark Laws, he could call upon Clegg and Billy Page up front.
The former pounced for the solitary goal after quarter-of-an-hour.
Joby Bourgaize delivered the ball in from the left and a misdirected defensive header fell to Clegg.
Richard Davey saved his first shot very well down low to his right, but the Bels striker ruthlessly lashed in the rebound.
That was against the run of play and North continued to be the better side for the opening period.
Simon Tostevin, who is desperate for games and still looks rusty, found the side-netting with a close range header and there was a heart-stopping moment for new Bels keeper Richard Barr as Leighton Chainey’s backpass bobbled over his foot but rolled just wide of the goal.
Tostevin went even closer on 34min. as he climbed above workmate Chainey to meet Glyn Dyer’s inswinging corner only to see his header thud against a post.
Bels’ other chance of the half fell to Scott Bradford, after good work by Dave Rihoy, and although the midfielder scuffed his shot somewhat, Ollie McKenzie still had to clear it off the line.
The home side were a more determined outfit after the break.
In the first half they had seemed to be edgy knowing that for once they were firm favourites to beat their big rivals, but now they made a much better fist of things and created some decent chances.
Brent Marquand’s flick header on Marcus Queripel’s long throw looked destined for the far corner of the net before Stuart Polson rose high to nod it away and their best move of the match, started by Bradford’s well weighted pass, resulted in Clegg dragging his half-volley just wide after he had turned Polson this way, then that.
At the other end, Queripel did well to block Craig Young’s shot, Darren Martin went close with a 20-yard drive and at the death Dyer rushed his first-time effort at the end of a neat move when he had much more time than he realised.
It was just not to be North’s day, though, and coach Mick Le Prevost remained annoyed that they had been made to fulfil the fixture when the club had six players away with the Guernsey under-18s. It meant that he had only one substitute, young Jack Domaille, at his disposal.
‘This game should not have been played in my opinion,’ he said.
‘If you have got players missing through injury and suspension, it’s fair enough, but we have got guys away representing the island at football and we have been made to pay for it.’
All things considered, he was relatively pleased with his side’s performance.
‘At half-time I said we should not have been one down. We had a lot of the play, but they had one chance and they took it,’ Le Prevost said.
‘In the second half it all went a bit sloppy and there were not a lot of chances. On the whole, I did not think we deserved to lose.’
Ogier emphasised that he was also without some players.
‘Both teams were short. They had some away with the under-18s, but so did we. It is the same for both sides.’
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