Guernsey's young stars were credit to the island

SPARE a thought for Emile Thompson and Tom Jenkins. Why, I hear you ask? Well, these two youngsters were among the substitutes for the Schoolboy Muratti last Saturday evening at Springfield, but were not used.

Star Trophy coach Chris Du Feu could not speak highly enough about their attitude and was delighted that the whole squad received winners' medals on the night.

'Emile and Tom have been a credit to us and themselves,' he said.

Indeed, Du Feu had every reason to be proud of all his young charges. I, among many parents and supporters, witnessed a super game of football played in driving wind and rain, but played in a way that was beyond their years.

The game leaned heavily in Guernsey's favour, but that was because they never allowed the home side to stamp their authority on it from the first minute.

Billy Page, in particular, was instrumental in all the goals, scoring two and unselfishly setting the others up for Ben Whitchurch and Jon Loaring.

Whitchurch, who received the man-of-the-match award, was outstanding on the evening.

I glanced at the team just before kick-off and Guernsey looked so strong in every position. My next thought was that Jersey would have to be exceptional to beat us; some 17 minutes later, we were 3-0 up.

Du Feu deserved this win. Having drawn one and lost two, he finally got everything right on the night. The coach was quick to praise the coaching skills of his assistant, Simon Tansey.

'He has been superb this season with the lads and people do not realise his coaching qualities. He certainly has made a huge difference to us this year.'

Finally, well done, lads; your behaviour throughout the weekend was a credit to the island.

n?There were a few eyebrows raised last weekend when the Youth One top-of-the-table clash between North and Bels was postponed. I have been reliably informed it was because North could not raise a team.

It appears to me that certain teams in the island get a better crack of the whip than others.

Some junior teams this season have been told simply to 'get on with it; that is why you have a Youth Two team to fill the spaces.'

Without question, North could and should have fielded a team, as others have had to do already this season.

Why should other clubs get a raw deal at youth level? Why not state at the start of a season that if clubs cannot raise a team, they lose the points.

Simple solution in my book and I bet there will be no postponements next season. Sounds simple, but it will work.

n?Tom Strawbridge scored a 30-yard cracker on Sunday afternoon for Sylvans Youth One side, only a few hours after helping Guernsey to a Schoolboy Muratti win.

The westerners went on to record a healthy 7-2 win against Vale Rec. In the same league, St Martin's beat Rovers 3-1. In the Youth Three, North helped themselves to 15 goals against Rovers with no reply.

Billy Page (Bels) and Matt Le Prevost (Sylvans) have something in common.

Despite both of them breaking a leg 18 months ago, both are now playing well for their respective clubs.

Page, of course, was a hero last Saturday in the Star Trophy and Le Prevost, who cruelly broke his leg after coming back from trials with West Ham the season before last, is finally getting back to form.