Bels go top after shock

Monday 7th December 2009, 2:29PM GMT.

Charge of the white brigade, alias Athletics at a dank and grey Victoria Avenue: From left – Luke Graham, Vijay Wiltshire, Craig Farnham, Aaron Gallie, James Mullen and Damien Le Tocq. Bels’ Joby Bourgaize looks on from a distance. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0883351)

Athletics 1, Bels 3
CRAIG FARNHAM shocked Bels with a debut goal after just 57 seconds but the extra firepower of Ian Champion’s side proved the difference in the mud at Victoria Avenue.

With the Track under water the neighbouring park proved just about playable and Bels will be thankful that it was.

The hard-earned win took them top of the Division One table and, once again, it owed much to the excellence of their main man Dave Rihoy.

After Simon Marley had levelled, Rihoy put the home side ahead with a typically opportunistic strike after 51 minutes.

Athletics kept Champion’s side very much on their toes until Neil Le Cheminant settled proceedings with a blistering half volley with six minutes left.

Both bosses had reason to be satisfied beyond Matt Walsh’s final whistle.