Gunners silenced by Totty's Northerners

NORTH crushed the might of Arsenal to win the Rothschild Shield in the weekend's SportsGuernsey Mini Soccer Festival. The chocolate-and-blues' under-10s defeated the impressive Arsenal academy side 3-0 in front of a packed Garenne Stand. Meanwhile, on the other pitch at Foote's Lane, St Martin's beat St Paul's from Jersey after penalties to take the Rothschild Plate.

It is the first time since the festival started four years ago that two local sides have won both trophies. North came close to winning last year's main competition, but were beaten in the final by Jersey's St Peter.

'I'm extremely pleased, it's excellent,' said North's coach Mark Totty after watching his team defeat their premiership opponents.

'The result speaks for itself. I think we've beaten an extremely good side, but Arsenal have been beaten by an extremely good side. After being runners-up last year, when we lost in the last minute, it's nice to go on and win it.'

Arsenal nearly took an early lead when their lone striker Jordan Brown broke free of the North defence, but his low shot skimmed the far post and went wide. Immediately the home side came close themselves when the dangerous Danny Hale let rip with a bullet of a strike from far out that was well parried by Lewis Moore in goal for Arsenal.

But, a minute later, it was 1-0 to North when, after some good interplay, Hale found forward Paris Pereira, who slid the ball in from close range.

Hale consistently caused problems for the reds down the right flank and was undoubtedly man of the match.

He was also the next name on the score sheet when he tucked away the ball from a corner.

North went into half time with a two-nil advantage, but in the second half the visitors started to claw their way back into the match.

Brown came close when his long range was just over the bar. North then effectively killed off the game when Tom Martin fired in a rebounded ball off a good block by Moore.

The score remained 3-0 to North at the final whistle, which was greeted by wild cheers from the large home support.

At the presentation, Pereira was deservedly named Cenkos player of the festival.

'Danny Hale over the weekend was outstanding and Paris was as well,' said Totty.

'In our system we only play one up front so he's had to put in loads of hard work. I've got no complaints with him winning player of the tournament.

'They have all been good.'

In the plate final the score was 0-0 after normal time.

St Martin's had come closest to breaking the deadlock, when Jason Hull's second-half strike rattled the crossbar.

In the penalty shootout it was all even at 3-3, at which point St Martin's captain James Rabey stepped up with the pressure on him to score and clinch the match and he duly did.

'I'm very pleased,' said winning coach Peter Cramphorn.

'It's down to all the hard work they have done. They did very well.

'We've got a small squad and they worked very hard.

'We only conceded three goals in 12 matches. I'm not superstitious but I was wearing an England cap and with England's record in penalties, I took it off when the penalties started.'

In the shield third and fourth playoff, Vale Rec lost 2-1 to the impressive Braunton Wanderers unit from Devon. And in the plate Jersey's Rozel Rovers took third place when they defeated Sylvans 2-0.