North 2, Trinity 1

TRINITY were left feeling sick with anger but North did not care. They had reversed the scoreline of last season’s Jeremie final with a controversial first-half stoppage-time leveller by Jon Veron and late winner from substitute Matt Dorrian.

But the game will be long remembered for the barrage of abuse levelled at referee Peter Davison by incensed Trinity players and officials before and after he blew the half-time whistle.

It led to the dismissal of Jon Fitzmaurice for foul and abusive language as he was trudging back to the dressing room. It also resulted in the appearance of two police officers at the Corbet Field for the majority of the second half and presentation ceremony.

On the pitch, North faced a much larger physical side than they are used to week in, week out locally, but refused to be intimidated.

With just 10 minutes gone, the first controversy arose.

Alex Le Prevost played a superb cross-field ball to the diminutive youngster Glyn Dyer, who attempted to go past Trinity goalkeeper Jimmy Styles but was brought down as he was about to pull the trigger.

Davison showed Styles a yellow card and awarded a free kick just outside the box while some in the crowd were claiming it should have been a straight red and a penalty.

Trinity promptly went down the other end and took the lead, Gavin Le Page unluckily slicing Barry Beatson’s tempting cross into his own net.

After more Dyer trickery, he was again brought down just outside the box. Dave Rihoy’s free kick was headed goalwards by Le Prevost but brilliantly tipped over by Styles.

Trinity’s Chris Richards suffered a gashed chin and skipper John Beatson a nasty cut head that later had to be bandaged after an accidental clash.

The Jersey side had looked more up for the challenge in the opening salvos but North gradually began to stamp some authority on the game in the closing first-half minutes.

North had a strong penalty claim dismissed when Martin went down well inside the box after a clumsy Richards challenge.

Then all hell broke loose as North equalised.

Simon Tostevin appeared to foul Richards 30 yards out but nothing was given and Veron went on to hammer the ball home.

Trinity’s contingent were adamant linesman Neil Lunn had flagged for an infringement, but had been ignored by Davison who allowed the goal to stand.

‘It’s an absolutely disgraceful decision. It’s absolutely blatant,’ shouted coach Joe Morley.

As Davison blew the half-time whistle moments later he was surrounded by players and officials, some with fingers pointing and hurling abuse his way.

He showed a straight red card to Fitzmaurice then one of the Trinity party stopped to clap him off the pitch by the main stand.

In the second period, Tostevin sustained a suspected twisted knee that could possibly rule him out of next weekend’s Upton. He was replaced by Dorrian.

When Trinity sprang North’s offside trap, Beaton should have scored but chipped over the bar with just Richard Davey to beat.

Davison again had Trinity reeling with fury when he adjudged Styles had held on to the ball too long in his box and gave a free kick to North, which they squandered.

During the second half, a livid Morley repeatedly claimed the officials had spoilt the game and suggested the whole organisation was a shambles.

‘Nobody to talk to any of them,’ he advised his substitutes and players.

‘Stevie Wonder would have even give it,’ he claimed.

To rub salt into the wounds, Trinity’s luck ran out with 13 minutes to go when Veron broke at pace down the left and laid the ball on to Rihoy inside the box.

Rihoy unselfishly laid the ball back on a plate to Dorrian whose far from sweetly struck shot deflected in off a covering defender.

But they all count and North were not arguing.

Trinity’s brave skipper Beatson was forced reluctantly to leave the pitch with blood pouring from his worsening wound after another clash of heads.

Substitute Peter Smith and Barry Beatson were both booked near the end but Davison refused to send off John Rutter after he appeared to push Dyer in the face.

Police were seen not far from the dugouts late in the second half.

‘It’s like the Keystone Cops,’ joked Morley, who before the final whistle blew asked Channel TV for a copy of their tape.