St Martin’s 4, Wanderers 2 (aet)

ST MARTIN’S moved into the next round of the Jeremie Cup with a hard-fought extra-time victory over Jersey Wanderers at Blanche Pierre Lane. The Guernsey side’s superior fitness levels eventually paid dividends but their depleted side had to battle back from behind to force the extra half hour.

Saints were missing seven key personnel because of injuries or unavailability, but dug into their reserves to grind out a positive result in the soaring heat.

Saints were indebted to the returning Dominic Heaume who grabbed two well-taken goals and to stand-in goalkeeper James Robert, who made some outstanding stops at vital times on his first team debut.

They took the lead on 15 minutes when Alex Hunter threaded a sublime ball through to Robert Pickford, who finished with aplomb.

But the caesareans hit back immediately when talented Muratti player Chris Andrews struck low past Robert after fine flank play from Jose Costa.

The lively and long-haired Karl Sutton, who looked Wanderers’ most impressive player, was booked for a late lunge on Pickford, and as tackles flew in from both sides there were claims of off-the ball tactics by Saints coach Colin Renouf.

But the half-time break calmed the situation and in the second half goalscoring chances were at a premium.

With 15 minutes left though Andrews gave the visitors the lead as he raced away and finished coolly after a Helio de Freitas pass released him down the middle.

Hunter was booked for a rash challenge on Leigh A’Court and was hauled off by his coaches shortly after.

Time was running out for the home side, but the inspirational Dominic Heaume played a get out of jail card for Saints to draw them level.

He applied a sweet finish from Luke Allen’s clever cross to force extra-time with just four minutes left.

Substitutes Darren Le Tissier and Adam Heaume both had glorious chances to win it in normal time, but fluffed them.

Nine minutes into extra-time Robert made a great save to his right to deny substitute Karl Stoodley’s goalbound effort.

A Sutton shot hit the near post before Robert pulled off a superb reflex save to keep out a close-range header from Wanderers skipper David de Abreu.

Two minutes into the second period St Martin’s made it 3-2 when Dominic Heaume latched on to Le Tissier’s cleverly flicked header and rounded keeper Greg Foster before slotting home.

Le Tissier then lobbed the goalkeeper with the tiring defence all at sea to wrap the game up.

‘I think over 90 minutes we had more opportunities than St Martin’s did and we are unlucky not to be in the next round. We were 2-1 up with about five or six minutes to go and it’s hard to take,’ said Wanderers’ coach Martyn Stratford.

‘If that is how far we are away from the Channel Islands champions I’m a very happy man at this stage.

‘I thought whoever was going to score the first goal in extra-time would go on to win the game. As soon as they scored they looked as if they had another gear and they finished strongly,’ he said.

‘Generally I was pleased with our performance – I thought their second goal was offside but when you come to Guernsey you don’t expect anything off the officials.’

Relieved St Martin’s coach Colin Fallaize said: ‘We grounded them down in the end and at the end of the day we have bought another game in the Jeremie which we are excited about. A successful side always plays the most football.’

‘We had seven choices out today and Colin and I have learnt a lot from today. I thought we deserved the win in the end. It was a pretty sloppy game all-round and they were quite physical but we kept plugging away,’ he said.