Title ever-nearer as North's young and old hit the target

North 2, Rovers 0

NORTH edged three valuable points closer to the title at the Northfield on Saturday, but were made to fight for 90 minutes by Graham Hockey's men. A goal apiece from Dudley Boscher and substitute Kyle Stone eased the nerves of coach Geoff Tardif and with only three more games to play and 11 points clear they look set to tie chocolate-and-blue ribbons on the Priaulx Cup in the coming weeks.

North have Vale Rec, St Martin's and Rangers to play to and can only lose the league themselves, which looks unlikely.

Rovers were missing a host of players including free-scoring Jamie Ferbrache.

Tardif's team were also missing the influential Jon Veron and Antony Saunders and their replacements Boscher and Carl Wallbridge found the Rovers defence in no mood to be very loving on Valentine's Day.

Indeed, it was North stalwart Boscher who finally opened the scoring in the 48th minute of a hard-fought contest as he gambled in a crowded area to pounce from two yards and stroke the ball past the impressive Jason Oliveira.

He had earlier missed a great chance in the first half when he hooked the ball over Oliveira, only to see his shot cleared off the line by Tom Rihoy.

Boscher, who two years ago left the club he loves for Blanche Pierre Lane after not being part of Tardif's plans, has often been accused of lacking pace.

But his astute football brain enables him to command a place in the first team again at the age of 36.

His goal took the pressure off North when an upset might have been on the cards as Rovers battled throughout to minimise the attacking play of the chocolate-and-blues.

In only the fourth minute a sizzling run down the wing by Dave Rihoy ended with him being upended in the box for a North penalty. Up stepped Tom Duff, only to see his shot hit the right-hand post and sail out of play to safety.

Rovers' Matt Drillot and Adam Dorey linked well together in the blues' midfield, but Gavin Le Page was equal to them both as he continues to enjoy his best season in the North's engine room.

But after a sequence of home attacks North failed to find the net in the first period and it was a dejected Tardif who slowly walked across the pitch with his team still at 0-0.

Micky Wilson was booked in the second period for a tackle on Barry Rowson and shortly afterwards North took the lead.

A brilliant shot from Ross Cameron was tipped over the bar by Oliveira and from the resulting corner Boscher nipped in to put his side ahead. Rovers Steve Ewins went agonisingly close with a lob over Paul de Garis' head, but it just missed the post.

Tardif, then introduced fresh legs in the form of youngsters Blake Smith and Stone and they immediately made their presence known, combining to set up a great chance for the latter. But Stone hurried his shot and the ball ended up in the pine trees behind the goal.

The trees were again an easy target as North piled on the pressure in the closing moments, but not before young Stone had stroked the ball past the onrushing Oliveira to make the game comfortable for Tardif.

He was pleased with the three points: 'I could grumble that we should have scored a hatful of goals, but the lads went out and did what I had told them to do, this was never going to be easy, but hey, didn't the youngsters do well when they came on?'

n?SYLVANS maintained their challenge for second place and a Martinez Cup spot next season with a 5-2 win over Rangers at St Andrew's.

Jamie Edwards scored two first-half goals for the red-and-blacks who held the visitors to 2-2 at the break, but Sylvans' added quality told in the second period.

Matt Warren, junior Danny Watts, Tony Vance and Ian Potter all scored for Trim Morgan's men who also benefited from a first-half own goal.