This Is Guernsey

Ben Coulter’s shot was denied by a spectacular save from St Ouen’s goalie Danny Caunce.

St Martin’s 2, St Ouen 2 (St Ouen won 5-3 on penalties)
ST MARTIN’S season did not end on the high they wanted, losing the Collins Cup to St Ouen after penalties at a foggy Track yesterday.

‘Clearly it was a very close game and an end-of-season thing as both sides hadn’t played for a few weeks,’ said St Martin’s assistant coach Glyn Smith. ‘We had 65% of the possession, we created two or three chances but they had two breakaway goals. Again we lacked a little bit of finishing. Full credit to them – they were hungry.’

After a minute’s silence was observed for St Martin’s stalwart Noel Gardener, who died during the night, the match got underway at a ferocious tempo with both teams not afraid to get stuck in.

The Jersey Division Two champions were particularly fired up by their loud travelling support, who were in full cheer after 22 minutes when a kick-cum-tackle from their centre back, Rob Sanford, saw the ball hoofed up the pitch for striker Martyn Sansom to latch onto, before tucking it into the corner of St Martin’s goal.

At the other end, St Ouen keeper Danny Caunce was in inspired form as he pulled off a spectacular one-handed save to deny Ben Coulter.

But he was responsible for the Guernsey side’s equaliser when, just before half time, he brought Jason Winch down in the area.

Chris Mauger had little problems putting the penalty away.

The black-and-whites proceeded to rule the roost in the second half and had a number of opportunities to score, but they just could not hit the target until they eventually took the lead with 15 minutes to go.

Winch hit the cross bar with a sweet free kick and, in the scuffle for the rebound, Chris Le Noury’s effort was put behind by St Ouen captain Peter Duffy.

But from the resulting corner, Le Noury did manage to find the back of the net this time, an under pressure Caunce dropping the ball and the winger tucking it away.

There were a number of cries from the Jersey players that their keeper had been infringed.

Two minutes later and somewhat against the run of play, substitute Scott Quarrell beat the off side trap to lob the ball over Pattimore.

The full time whistle was blown minutes later and as St Ouen had a boat home to catch, the match went straight to penalties.

And like Monday’s Muratti, a Guernsey team were on the losing side of a shootout as St Ouen converted all five of theirs, while Mauger’s opening miss proved to be their downfall.