O'Neill's dismissal caps Bels' miserable afternoon

Belgraves 0, Grouville 1

WHAT a disastrous last half hour for Belgraves. Firstly, Ray Queripel jnr. misses a penalty and with extra time looming in this Jeremie Cup quarter-final at the Track, Grouville break away to score the only goal of the game with three minutes left.

With 90min. on the clock and just to complete a miserable afternoon for the home side, Paul O'Neill received a straight red card which will keep him out of action for 35 days.

But the result was just about right.

Grouville look a fairly accomplished side and may pose Vale Rec. a few problems when they meet in the semi-finals next weekend.

Vale will certainly have to keep a close eye on striker Stephen Holt, who looks a very handy player with a good touch.

After a dull first period, the game came to life in the last half-hour as the play became increasingly stretched on a pitch cutting up sufficiently to give Paul Franklin, the watching groundsman, cause for concern.

Grouville thought they had scored seven minutes into the second period when Holt headed past Mick Leigh as he latched onto Mark Herridge's mistimed header on a left-wing cross.

Linesman Mark Le Tissier came to the rescue for Bels, though, and the home side were given another momentary boost when referee Ted Teed awarded them a highly-dubious penalty on 68 minutes.

To most observers Ewen Beacom appeared to be auditioning for a job with Jacques Cousteau's diving team as he inched into the box from O'Neill's feed.

But as Beacom measured his length, Teed immediately appointed to the spot. Justice was done, though, when Queripel pulled his spot-kick horribly wide of the keeper's right-hand post.

By now tempers were becoming increasingly frayed and Bels' left-back Robbie Dover was one of those to be cautioned for a nasty over-the-top challenge on Burton.

Grouville were becoming stronger as the game wore on and with 87min. up they scored the decisive goal.

Young Sam Cochrane failed to cut out a ball over the top and Peter Hall ran clear to confidently glide past Leigh and tuck the ball into an empty net.

Bels, toothless in attack all afternoon, probably knew the game was up with that goal and a frustrated O'Neill's verbals under Teed's nose saw him reach the dressing room just in time to get the showers running for his team-mates.