Northerners see red

Rangers 2, North 2

NORTH ended with as many red cards as goals on Saturday at the College Field where any lingering FNB Priaulx League title hopes took a major blow.

Try as they might against an under-strength but gutsy Rangers side, who twice took the lead, the chocolate-and-blues just could not find a winner in the last quarter of the game and their endeavours eventually led to their frustration boiling over.

With the game already deep into added time after a lengthy stoppage early in the second half after Jonny Robilliard popped his shoulder out of its socket, a long punt forward was dropping in the Rangers penalty area and everyone could see a collision coming between Simon Tostevin and goalkeeper Jakub Machlowski.

Both had their eyes on the ball all the way and both ended up in a heap on the floor, but with Machlowski having got his hands to the ball first, the foul was always likely to go the home side's way.

However, Tostevin and his teammates were agog when he rose to be issued with a straight red card by referee Ross de Carteret, who deemed he had led dangerously with his arm going into the challenge.

The initial protests led to two Northerners being booked, including Darren Martin, who continued to question the official after the final whistle and was shown a second yellow followed by a red.

Earlier, Aaron Ockleford had given Rangers an early lead with Jonny Veron equalising for North before half-time.

A penalty from substitute Stuart Mallett restored the home side's lead briefly in the second half, but Matt Drillot levelled things just five minutes later.

Meanwhile, at St Peter's, Vale Rec beat Sylvans 3-2 thanks to two goals from Mark Ingrouille and one for Danny Ozanne. Fraser Le Tissier scored for the hosts while their second came from a George Mason own goal.

More in today's Guernsey Press.