Avery 'embarrassed' as Bels rout Sylvans again

Sylvans 2, Bels 8

TIMES are certainly hard at St Peter's. Things are not as they used to be at Sylvans, the reigning Priaulx champions and so recently the dominant force in Guernsey football for a decade, and on Saturday they were unceremoniously dumped out of the FA Cup by the new force on the local scene, Belgrave Wanderers.

Sometimes in football the score does not tell the full story but in this case the result accurately reflects how dominant the visitors were.

Sylvans player-coach Joel Avery did not mince his words after the final whistle.

'It was disappointing but what can you do?' he said.

'I'm getting no response out of the players. I'm disappointed with the attitude and with the training attendances and it shows with the performances on the pitch.

'It was embarrassing at times. I've told them that.'

On a rain-sodden pitch, the football was never going to be slick and attractive as both teams looked to play through balls for their forwards to chase.

The result of this tactic was almost immediate for Micky Ogier's Bels because after three minutes they got their first goal as Billy Page chased down a ball along the right flank to cut back and cross into the box to give left winger Paul Ramsden the easiest of tap-ins.

Page himself got his name on to the score sheet on 10min. when stand-in keeper Jarrod Avery blocked Brent Marquand's effort only for the young striker to take a couple of touches to knock it in from short range.

It was all Bels now as they had a couple more chances before they got their third, thanks to some inspirational play on the ball by Joby Bourgaize to find Danny Felbabel at the far post for another simple tap-in.

The score stayed 3-0 until half-time with the home side having only one meaningful chance when left back Vinny de Carteret's shot was just the wrong side of the bar and the ball slammed into the roof of the Sylvans clubhouse.

After the break, Sylvans had the use of their best player, island striker Neil Clegg, who had missed the first half due to work commitments and the Scot almost had an immediate influence on the proceedings as he came close with an effort.

But Sylvans' grip on the game was short-lived as Bourgaize got Bels' fourth.

The blue-and-whites now looked totally in control as Page kept hassling Sylvans' aging defence, yet he is going to have to improve the timing of his runs as he was constantly being caught offside.

The young forward created Bels' fifth just after the hour as de Carteret brought him down in the area - the culmination of sustained needle between the two.

Scott Bradford took the resulting penalty which Avery saved with ease but luckily for the midfielder, linesman Geoff Ogier judged that the keeper had moved off his line before it was taken.

Chris King had no problems with the retake.

Marquand made it 6-0 shortly afterwards and Bels' sub Charles Pinsard notched the seventh when he dispossessed Avery as he dallied on the ball instead of kicking it clear.

Sylvans then got into the act to score two consolation goals both through Clegg. The second was well constructed following some good work by Michael Mussard down the right to find Clegg in the middle, who trapped the ball and got his shot off quickly.

But Bels then put paid to any chance of an unlikely comeback thanks to a training ground routine whereby King deflected Ramsden's low free kick into the corner of the goal.

'It was a good performance, the boys worked hard,' said Ogier.

'Joby had a good game in the centre of the midfield and Scott played fairly well.'