Probably the best team in the island!

Rovers 2, Vale Rec 0

TO BORROW a line from their sponsors Carlsberg, Rovers are probably the best team in the island - for now at least. Seven days after blitzing Sylvans 4-1 on the opening day of the Priaulx League season, Rovers glided into the Le Vallee Cup final with a convincing defeat of last season's league champions Vale Rec.

Marshalled superbly at the back by under-rated captain Keith Quertier, driven from midfield by the excellent George Prow and spearheaded up front by powerful target man Simon Tostevin, Rovers were undoubtedly the better side at Port Soif.

The increasing frustration among the Vale faithful became almost palpable as their side's performance deteriorated as they chased the game. Murmured excuses about having only half a team out were as futile as they were at St Peter's a week before.

Vale, although admittedly under-strength, named more than half of their first choice players, including the two Bissons - Jody and Danny - and

Malcolm Symons and Matt Patch. New signing Mark Ogier played all of the second 45 minutes and Tony Manning and Mark Elliott came on for the last 35 minutes. Even with a significant list of absentees, the visitors should have had enough quality to win.

Rovers manager Graham Hockey was forced into making changes.

Goalkeeper Paul Garrard, veteran full back Ian Ozanne and midfielder David Gibson were among the unavailable; of their replacements, young left-back Barry Rowson, a promising and skilled player who surely warrants consideration for a place in Tony Vance's junior island squad, was particularly impressive.

Tostevin was Rovers' goalscoring hero against Sylvans. A one-man team, claimed some observers. But though again troublesome and awkward to defend against, Tostevin was not on the scoresheet on Saturday.

Prow and Matt Drillot, rejuvenated after serving his lengthy suspension, scored the blue-and-whites goals.

The opening few minutes did not suggest another shock result: Vale had more possession and Rovers, with just Tostevin up front, seemed set for a typical backs-to-the-wall rearguard.

But they have a little more quality these days. The likes of Quertier, Prow, Drillot and Tostevin are capable of changing the rhythm of a match and that's exactly what they did on Saturday.

The first decent chance fell to Prow after an intricate but purposeful build up down the left, the flank that continued to yield their best attacking moments all afternoon.

The rusty, previously golf-committed Danny Bisson squandered a good headed chance on 22 minutes, after which it was all Rovers for the remainder of the first half.

Jamie Ferbrache and Prow came close with long-range efforts before the latter put Rovers one up on 39 minutes.

Vale stupidly backed off when Prow went on a driving run, inviting him to shoot. His effort was blocked, as was Ferbrache's follow up, but Prow hammered the ball home when it fell into his path again.

The second half was worrying for Vale. They had most of the possession, but their final ball was atrocious. Probably 70% of the ball was converted into one half-chance.

Rovers continued to press the ball 35 yards from goal and with considerable success. Their high-energy approach stifled Vale.

Rovers completed a second successive brilliant victory on 89 minutes.

Elliott was robbed of the ball in his own half by Drillot, who powered towards goal and kept his composure, hitting it wide of Jody Bisson.