Elizabeth College book first round date with Vale Rec

Elizabeth College 3, Port City 2

ELIZABETH COLLEGE are through to play Vale Rec in the first round proper of the FletcherSports Guernsey FA Cup. College scored three times within the first 35 minutes and looked set to run out easy winners.

However, Port City hit back just before half-time and made College scrap right up to the final whistle by grabbing a second midway through the second half.

College started very brightly and created two chances inside the opening couple of minutes. Peter Le Hegarat squandered the first with an air shot and then Jonathan Wilkes-Green dragged his shot just wide after a clever flick by Ben Whitchurch.

Port City hit back with their own chance when Matthew Payne showed good pace to get behind the College defence but shot tamely straight at Andy Rigden.

College continued to force the issue and after a couple of half-chances, only the crossbar denied Piers Ockleford after a drilled effort from 25 yards.

But they had to wait only a further two minutes for the first goal as Wilkes-Green stole in unmarked to head home an Ollie Richards free kick.

It was no more than College deserved for their lively start, with Richards particularly catching the eye down the left flank.

Following a good play of advantage, Elizabeth scored their second when Ockleford burst down the flank and squared to Le Hegarat who calmly slotted his shot past Tobias Revs in the Port City goal.

It was soon 3-0 as College cut open the Port City defence once more. Good hold up play by Wilkes-Green allowed Jack Byrne to pick out the run of Ben Whitchurch, who rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into an empty net.

College, though, were soon pegged back as a Mark Read corner was turned in by Darren Cooley after good work by Kevin Davies to make it 3-1.

After the break Port City came out more determined and scored a second from another set piece.

This time it was Matthew Sherbourne who stooped to head past Rigden after good delivery from Garth Cronshaw.

But Port City could not find the equaliser and College were the more likely to score again.

An offside flag denied Wilkes-Green his second goal after he cleverly lobbed Revs but wasteful finishing from the College and some fine saves by Revs meant the score stayed at 3-2.

One in particular which caught the eye was from an Ockleford shot after a flowing move involving Richards and Jack Byrne.

As it turned out, the three first-half goals were enough for the College but as their coach, Mike Garnett said afterwards, they made hard work of it.

'We made it hard for ourselves in the end, but I always felt we were in control of the game,' he said.

'We got caught out by two set pieces so we'll have to correct that for the next game and we were guilty of missing a few too many chances.'

Garnett is aware that his team will have to improve for the next round but thinks they will definitely be up for it.

'Eight of the boys play for Vale Rec in the Youth One so they will need no further motivation than that.'