Goal-hungry Colombians

ANOTHER weekend of goals and it looks more likely to be a two-horse race for the title. Defending champions Investec Colombians collected six points from two victories, knocking in nine goals and looking ever hungrier for a second consecutive title.

Tigers, however, are on their tail. Against Colombians Youth, they rattled in seven unanswered goals, including four for midfielder Barry Wallace.

The Scot looks certain to be named in next week's Guernsey squad for the HA Trophy.

His creativity will always cause opponents trouble. On Saturday it was his finishing that especially hurt the development side.

It should have been a huge mismatch: the Tigers squad brimming with movement, pace and talent; the Youth team comprising junior players on their way up and just a few seniors to add experience. In a boxing ring, the bout not would have been allowed.

But this young side has no fear of reputations. They hassled Mark Babbe, poked the ball off Simon Beck, dribbled at Mark Jefferies.

The scoreline does not matter. When these young players have another couple of seasons under their belt, they will be pushing for senior island places.

Jonathan Wilkes-Green, after embarrassing a few Division One cricketers with his leg-spin this summer, has started doing the same with a hockey stick. He is just one of half a dozen with real potential.

Andy Bell then Andy Biggins cracked two goals in as many minutes at the start before Wallace completed a hat-trick before the break. His first came from the spot, the second a short-corner and the third courtesy of some fine driving play by Babbe.

Again Wallace flicked home from a short-corner for his fourth and Spencer Noyon tapped in the seventh and final goal from close range.

Colombians Youth never stopped trying, however. It is credit to them that they kept their shape and continued trying to play passing hockey.

Their first team gave plenty of support from the sidelines after having disposed of Clubhouse Unwantables 5-1 in the previous match at Foote's Lane.

All six goals came in the second period, the first having been a scrappy, disjointed affair in which UHC had chances to go ahead.

Again Kees Jager repelled just about everything thrown at him, Rob Newton and Andy Alford denied the most by the huge keeper.

TJ Ozanne put the yellows ahead after Matt Elston had driven to the right by-line. But with 15min. left there was still just one goal in it.

Then Tim Creasey benefited from a slight deflection on a cross that took keeper Paul Bullock out of the play, finishing calmly from the top of the D.

Enter Adam Kitching. With his pace stick skill and endless running, he could force himself into Andy Graham's island squad.

He robbed Chris de Putron on the 25, exchanged passes with Ozanne and found the net.

Two minutes later he hammered in his second after Bullock had saved well at a short-corner.

And after Newton had pulled a goal back with a reverse-stick shot, Kitching completed his treble with a low shot that went through the keeper's legs.

Colombians gained their second win yesterday with a 4-1 defeat of Mosgrove's Yobbos.

Chris Gill opened the scoring from a tight angle only for Tony Veillard to level from a short-corner.

Tristan Cairns put Colombians 2-1 up after the break with a fierce drive from the left of the D and when Adrian Gidney palmed out Ozanne's drag-flick, Kitching was on hand to smash in the loose ball.

Seven minutes from time, Jamie Chambers' short-corner strike was saved and again Kitching was on hand to bury the rebound and seal the points.