IN SPORT the best come to the fore on the big occasion, whatever their level.

For Guernsey football at present, the level on which the representative side are looking to excel is the FA Carlsberg National League System Cup.

Tony Vance’s men, though, were given a far from straightforward task to reach the quarter-finals of this season’s competition as they were drawn against the holders – the Southern Amateur League – last month.

Step forward Dave Rihoy (pictured).

In a fine Guernsey team performance at the Track in the 3-2 victory, it was the Bels star who made the difference with a stunning second-half hat-trick.

Although both coaches could not believe the SAL fell for the same corner routine twice, it takes some talent to find the bottom corner of the net with pinpoint precision from the move made famous by Teddy Sheringham. And Rihoy did it with aplomb for his first and third goals.

They sandwiched a rocket of a left-foot finish into the roof of the net as the No. 7 found himself in the right place at the right time to get on the end of Ross Allen’s cross.

On a representative level, it was pleasing for Rihoy to finish a see-saw year on a high having missed the Muratti final and the opening two Island Games matches following his controversial sending off in Alderney.