Bels narrow gap at the top

Monday 26th October 2009, 2:30PM GMT.

Dominic Heaume rises for a header during St Martin’s Bels defeat at the Track. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0862255)

NORTH’S advantage at the top of Division One has been reduced to a single point.

Bels were the main beneficiaries of the weekend’s results as they edged past fellow title hopefuls St Martin’s 3-2 at the Track while the champions were held to a 2-2 draw by Rangers at the College Field.

In Saturday’s other top-flight clashes, Athletics overcame Sylvans 3-0 at KGV while Vale Rec won 2-0 at Rovers.

‘It felt like we had won the FA Cup today when that whistle went,’ said Bels coach Ian Champion after Saturday’s victory.

‘Three weeks ago we won 5-0 against Rangers and we were awesome. Between that time and last Wednesday night [when Bels lost to Sylvans in the Stranger], the pressure of outside forces – not things coming from within the Track – unsettled things.

‘Today was all about belief and organisation.’

The decisive goal at the Track came via a hotly-disputed penalty for the home side and Champion understood Saints’ protests, but was also full of praise for his side.