Mollet scores with his first touch to seal North victory
SUBSTITUTE Craig Mollet made an immediate and decisive impact as North claimed the first piece of silverware of the new GFA season in beating St Martin's 2-1 last night.
Chocolate-and-blues coach William Woodford could claim it was an inspired change, but in a game in which rolling subs were in operation, it may have been a case of introducing fresh legs rather than any tactical brilliance that saw Mollet come off the bench to replace Nigel Hutton in the 70th minute with Dean Carre waiting to take a goal kick at Northfield.
However, there can be no denying the significance of Mollet's first touch as, from the restart, Carre, who showed time and again he could strike a really clean ball off the deck, launched another long clearance which was flicked on by Simon Tostevin into the substitute's path and he slotted home past Sam Barrell.
That strike gave North the much-needed cushion of a second goal, which proved crucial in a competitive contest.
The home side had taken the lead from the penalty spot in the fifth minute after the ball had struck Steve Renouf's hand from close range as Ollie McKenzie looked to pass him on the left-hand side of the box.
Newly-wed Tostevin stepped up and sent Barrell the wrong way from 12 yards.
More in today's Guernsey Press.