North show that they are up for the fight

Bels 1, North 2.

NORTH landed an important psychological blow on Bels when they beat their great rivals in the Stranger Cup final last night. Under the floodlights at Corbet Field, the chocolate-and-blues proved that they have the ability to get the better of a Bels team that had looked set to take everything this year.

The Channel Islands champions had beaten North 3-1 seven days ago in the C&W Fredrick Martinez Cup.

'They needed that: it was a bit of a boost,' said North boss Mick Le Prevost.

'They battered us in the Martinez and they won the league last year so the boys wanted to get some revenge.

'They now know they can beat them.

'They went out there tonight and they were determined. It showed in their eyes.

'They have got the belief that they can beat Bels and they didn't have that last year. It's one apiece now and there's going to be some good battles ahead.'

North reached the final by default after Vale Rec were thrown out of the competition after they fielded an unregistered player in their win over their neighbours on Saturday.

North's two goals came in the first six minutes thanks to their strike partnership of AJ Saunders and Simon Tostevin, on his debut since joining from Rovers.

Saunders got the opener on four minutes when he charged down Bels keeper Rhys Gower's weak clearance kick and put the ball in the net.

Tostevin's came two minutes later when Saunders nodded the ball into the box to his strike partner who headed it into the top right corner.

It was a special moment for Tostevin to get his first goal for his new club as he wheeled away with his Ronaldo-style celebration.

After initially been shaken by a double whammy, Bels got one back on 22 minutes when Simon Marley scored with a peach of a volley from the edge of the area.

The goal followed a six-minute delay in the proceedings when Bels striker Neil Clegg got the ball flush in his face from close range.

He lay on the ground for some time before he returned to his feet, but it was clear he was not right and 10 minutes later he came off the pitch to be replaced by Marc McGrath, back from suspension.

In the extended injury time at the end of the half, Tostevin should have put North two goals clear.

He was gifted the ball on the six yard box from a corner.

The forward, instead of placing the ball in, decided to go for power and succeeded in launching it over the bar and out of the ground.

Bels had the first real chance of the second half when McGrath's turn and shot went straight at Steve Gibson, in goal for North.

After that it was pretty much all North.

Man of the match Dave Rihoy caused havoc down the left flank for North as he helped supply the crosses for Saunders and Tostevin but the big men could not quite convert their chances.

With the clock counting down, Le Prevost must have walked about five miles in his small technical area as the tension mounted.

In the last few minutes, North had a further two chances to Rihoy and Jon Veron, but both came to nothing.

It did not matter though as Ian Drillot blew his whistle soon after to give North their first piece of silverware of the season.

'I wasn't expecting to get man of the match,' said Rihoy.

'I thought we all played well. It could have gone to anyone.

'It was a very important win. It showed that we're not going to be battered by them all season.'