Colombians make their intentions clear

Investec Colombians 7, Isabel's Beavers 3

AS A statement of intent, Investec Colombians' first match in defence of their title was unequivocal. The Investec Men's Division One trophy will not be stolen away without a fight and it will take something special to deny Damian Wallen's men.

They made Isabel's Beavers look anything but title contenders with a ruthless display of finishing.

Admittedly, Beavers were missing Andy Whalley and were carrying a couple of injuries in their squad, but Colombians did not hit top gear and the five-goal margin could have been greater.

It may have been only the first meeting of these sides, but the result carried huge importance.

For all of two minutes, Beavers were in the ascendancy, Mark Babbe intercepting a weak pass out of defence and cleverly setting up Spencer Noyon for a reverse-stick finish.

That was the first attack of note, after five minutes of midfield sparring.

With the second, Colombians were level - Tim Creasey volleying home when Tristan Cairns' short-corner strike was deflected.

From then on, Beavers keeper Jason Robilliard was by far the busier, one time denying his opposing attackers with an instinctive double save from close range.

He was helpless when

TJ Ozanne doubled Colombians' tally.

Cairns' precise free-hit from the 25 found Ozanne's unmarked run across the D and his angled stick diverted the ball into the net.

And Beavers' defence was equally ineffective when Cairns ghosted past three challengers and found Ozanne, though a mis-hit shot agonisingly wrong-footed Robilliard and barely trickled over the line.

Ahead 3-1 with just 15min. on the watch, Colombians were flying.

It became four, then five in the closing minutes of the first half.

Ozanne punished defensive hesitancy with a steal and a low cross for John Seymour to turn in, then Cairns again left blue-shirted opponents floundering before rolling the ball into the far post.

Barry Wallace pulled one goal back straight after the restart, though any hopes of a comeback were quashed when Colombians broke on the counter attack, Ozanne exchanged passes with Chris Gill and the Guernsey forward had the simplest of finishes to complete his hat-trick.

Babbe was rewarded for his tireless midfield endeavour with Beavers' third, moving across the D to rifle a shot into the far corner.

But the final strike came from a Colombian, Gill flicking home firmly from a short corner.