Hope offered

ISABEL'S BEAVERS have offered other clubs hope by holding the formidable Investec Colombians to a 1-1 draw in the Investec Men's Division One. As the league split in two over the winter, it was Colombians who took the honours for the first half of the season without too much trouble.

With their large squad and quality from the keeper through to the front, they had threatened to run away with the second half as well.

But Saturday's result at Foote's Lane has shown that the mighty yellows will not have everything their way in the second part of the campaign.

Despite that, captain Damian Wallen was still happy with the result.

'We could have played a touch better,' he said.

'On the day, 1-1 was a fair result. Both keepers made good saves.

'Pat Falla played really well for us after coming back to the island and it was good to see Simon Beck back in the game. He hasn't lost his skill and it's good for Guernsey hockey to see him back.'

Beck has been in and out of local hockey for the last couple of years but on Saturday he returned to the Beavers side that was light of a number of Elizabeth College boys now required to play for the school in the league.

Colombians were also missing several key men but were boosted by the return of Tristan Cairns to the central-midfield position.

It was Cairns' island and Colombian teammate TJ Ozanne who got their only goal in the first minute of play.

The striker perfectly executed one of his trademark drag flicks from a short corner, leaving keeper Jason Robilliard flailing as the ball went just inside the right-hand upright.

Beavers' encouraging response would have no doubt delighted coach Andy Graham.

Midfielders Mark Babbe and Charlie Allen pressurised Cairns at every opportunity and his usually accurate passing suffered as a consequence.

This forced Ozanne to come deeper to find the ball and often resorting to the long ball himself as his supply dried up.

Meanwhile, Colombians goalkeeper Andy Good saved five short corners in the first half and with no Beaver following them up, the score remained 1-0 until five minutes before half-time when the equaliser finally came for the navy blues.

A fine run by Babbe saw him feed Beck. He in turn found Andy Biggins inside the D who slid the ball to the far post for Alexis Mansell to tap it home.

Beavers stayed on top for the remainder of the half, with Babbe in particular tormenting the Colombians midfield. If it were not for some fine tackling by John Norman and Jonny Warr, Beavers would have gone into the break with the lead.

Colombians came out after the interval reorganised, making the game more balanced. Cairns was moved out to the left and an under-the-weather Wallen came on in the middle.

This served to break up Beavers' penetrating hockey and the yellows started to look stronger as Rick Gomes struggled to get the ball past Cairns.

Colombians forward Chris Gill was finding more and more space up front but was denied time and time again by former island keeper Robilliard who pulled off a number of fine saves.

For Beavers, Beck and Biggins both missed chances that might have given their team victory.

For two such free-scoring sides, the result was a surprising one.

'It was a typical straight after Christmas game,' said Graham.

'Both sides got tired in the last 10 minutes of the second half and it really opened up becoming end-to-end stuff. Babbe stood out for us and Tristan and TJ stood out for Colombians.

'It was a fantastic game of hockey, the best I've seen all year.'

* Saturday sees the next round of league action as Colombians face Yobbos and Beavers play Elizabeth College.