Third-generation Hunter collects champs' scalp

Vale Rec 0, St Martin's 1

LIKE his dad Neil, Alex Hunter is having to live up to the reputation of being the son of a goalscoring great of Guernsey football. More goals like the spectacular strike that settled this game at the Corbet Field on Saturday and perhaps the latest in the line of goalscoring Hunters may get the chance to emulate his father and grandfather Alan and play Muratti football.

Even Ray Blondel, the Vale coach, took his hat off to the match-winner.

'A great goal divided the teams and a goal like that deserves to win any game,' said the home boss, who also had a word of advice for referee Tony Sarre.

'The referee, just like us, will, I'm sure, improve with practice,' declared the Guernsey champions' coach with tongue firmly implanted in his cheek.

The official failed to endear himself to the home team after ignoring strong claims for handball well into stoppage time.

Blondel, like everyone of green-and-yellow leaning, believed it was a blatant spot-kick, but Sarre, who needlessly booked four, waved away their appeals.

Colin Renouf, the Saints boss, admitted there had been handball, but did not believe there was any intent on Richard Herpe's part.

Saints probably did just about enough to win and head for the end of September as the only Priaulx side still unbeaten.

Vale Rec had good chances to wrap up the points in the first half, but wasted them and eventually were made to pay by Hunter's 23rd min. strike.

Danny Bisson's form this season has been anything like that of a Muratti striker, but he looked sharp enough early on, even though his opening attempt almost took out a passing motor-cyclist entering the ground.

Nathan Pattimore denied Bisson with a fine parry to his right and as Vale stepped up the pressure Tony Manning blasted a good attempt close to the right-hand post and Matt Patch toe-poked wide.

Saints had hardly threatened when Hunter opened the scoring.

Receiving the ball with his back to goal 25 yards out, he swivelled and shot left-footed in one movement. From the moment the ball left his foot it was clear Jody Bisson would get nowhere near it.

Until fading late on Jan Renouf and Kevin Gilligan kept a grip on the central midfield and only the visitors looked like scoring.

In one attack Renouf set up Dominic Heaume 10 yards out, but Bisson dived low to his right and flicked the ball up for team-mate Leon Meakin to clear on the goal-line.

From the corner a typically towering Renouf header flew just wide and before long the big man went close again with another header.

Encouragingly for Saints and watching island boss Steve Ogier, Renouf was somewhere near his old best.

Father Colin is glad to see his son back, too, although the coach did not like the way his side faded.

'I'm happy with the points but not happy with the fact that we died.

'We have a problem psychologically and we went into our shell.'