This Is Guernsey

By Rob Batiste

DAVE RIHOY is out of the Muratti final.

And, to make matters worse, he will also miss the first two games of the Island Games tournament in Aland.

In announcing his starting team against Jersey last night, Tony Vance dropped the bombshell that he and GFA officials learned only yesterday morning that Rihoy (pictured), sent off against Alderney in the semi-final, was automatically banned for three matches.

‘I feel sorry for him. Dave is gutted,’ said the island manager, who has drafted in North’s Glyn Dyer as his replacement.

‘Dyer comes in and it’s a case of like for like to me.’

Vance said he had known for a few days that the English FA were looking into the matter of Rihoy’s red card against the Ridunians and that, unlike in the past, Rihoy’s case was not, apparently, a matter for the local disciplinary body, who having received an appeal from the player could not meet before the end of the season.

‘We found out at the start of the week that the FA had pointed out to us that as it was [in effect] a county cup game and you get a specific number of games like they do in England. We had to appeal to the FA and they haven’t supported it – it’s a three-game ban.’

Other than Rihoy’s wretchedly unlucky omission, the side is what many expected it to be.

Ben Coulter, the neutrals’ footballer of the season, will make his first Muratti final start on Sunday.

The 19-year-old is only one of two first-time finalists named in the starting line-up.

The other is North striker Craig Young.

Coulter has no bigger fan than his St Martin’s colleague and island captain, Matt Warren.

‘Ben’s had an exceptional season,’ said Warren who acknowledged there is something about himself in Coulter with his non-stop, box-to-box play and ball-winning attributes.

Warren even admits he’s changed his own game to play alongside the impressive former Belgrave.

‘Playing a season with Ben and Dom I’ve had to adapt my game,’ he said.

‘I would go on marauding runs as and when, but I now have to sit more,’ said Warren, who is desperate to lift the Vase for the first time as skipper.

Dominic Heaume, another of Coulter’s Guernsey and Saints midfield colleagues, has been able to see the youngster’s improvement at close quarters.

‘He was a raw talent. He had all the attributes but needed to be coached a little. He wanted to be everywhere on the pitch, but he’s improved incredibly,’ said Heaume.

Is he player-of-the-year though?

Warren and Heaume were in agreement: ‘Consistently across all the squads he’s been one of the best over the island.’

Young’s first start is appreciated, too, by both Saints.

‘He’s got an exceptional touch and kills the ball,’ said Warren, who finds himself playing under his fourth island coach on his 16th Muratti appearance. Only keeper Jody Bisson is as experienced, Sunday’s game also being his 16th Muratti.

‘Tony’s a great coach and I was fortunate enough to play a lot of football with him. He’s got heaps of experience, good team ethics and lots of ideas.

‘With him it’s about playing football . . . getting the ball down and playing it.’

Heaume said adaptability is a strength of the team.

‘There’s been no massively drastic changes, although it might look different. All the players can adapt and it’s not a one dimensional game.’

Article posted on 1st May, 2009 - 2.30pm