Leighton Chainey lifts the Guernsey FA Cup in his final game before hanging up his boots.
St Martin’s, 2, Bels 4
MICKY OGIER’S four-year reign at Bels ended in glorious fashion under the Corbet Field lights.
And there was a hint of a tear in his eye as he thanked his players for the remarkable transformation which saw them turn a 2-0 deficit after just 22 minutes into a win that could have been wider such was their defiant turnaround.
‘They’ve got a bit of steel about them those lads,’ he said, in a quick break from the celebrations.
But how could he explain such a change in a game which they would have surely lost had Matt Warren tucked away a golden chance with Saints two up and seemingly strolling?
‘We went out and played 3-5-2 and it didn’t work,’ admitted the retiring boss.
‘Rihoy came over and had a moan about changing it and we did.’
It was certainly one of the better FA Cup finals and the tightness of the Corbet Field played its part in creating a decent atmosphere.
On the pitch, both sides flew into tackles from the off and for nearly half-an-hour Saints ran the show and Ryan Tippett scored two fine goals, the first after just two minutes and the second superly taken on 22.
Bels were all over the place at the back, but no sooner had they made the switch to a flat four at the back than Rihoy scored a fluky goal which went in through countless sets of legs it seemed, before edging over the line.
That lifeline came on 30 minutes and in the final third of the half Charles Pinsard crashed a header against the crossbar and Simon Marley ended a fine move with a shot just wide.
Bels had a head of steam and the second half was only a minute or so old when Rihoy crashed a shot onto the bar and although the ball bounced close to the line, it then stood up nicely for Pinsard to head home.
Marc Laws then raced clear of a static Saints defence to make it 3-2 with a fine finish and there was nothing undeserving about Bels’ fourth with 10 minutes left, Rihoy producing a bit of magic on the byline before squaring for Pinsard to bundle in.
Ogier was not the only Belgrave making an emotional farewell. Skipper Leighton Chainey also went into retirement on a winning note.
‘We shot ourselves in the foot in the first half by not picking up the men coming through the middle,’ he said.
‘But we changed formation and took the game to them.
‘I’m so pleased and it is nice for ‘Bud’. He’s one of the boys and I’m just happy for him.’
Article posted on 11th April, 2009 - 2.30pm
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