The rest should beware as Bels are back in top gear

Sylvans 0, Bels 2

THE other teams in the C&W Priaulx League better be worried - Bels are starting to look like the side they were last season. At the start of the campaign, the reigning champions were a shadow of the outfit that cruised to the title last year. But it seems they have rediscovered their edge.

Last Wednesday they took care of Vale Rec 3-1, then on Saturday they overcame Sylvans with an assured performance at St Peter's. Earlier in the season they had lost to the westerners 3-0.

Now, they look like champions elect.

'We've started to get back the camaraderie in the warm-ups and training,' said coach Micky Ogier.

'Everyone is up for it. We're starting to play some good football again.

'We've got to try and win every game.'

The causes of their resurgence are the return of their captain, Leighton Chainey, to the centre of defence, Ben Coulter starting to play in midfield and Marc McGrath, who scored both goals in Saturday's win, finding his shooting boots.

Chainey echoed his coach's sentiments.

'We've got more team spirit and we're starting to win a few games,' he said.

'We want to work for each other and we want to win. It's back to how it was last year.

'We're starting to play some good football.'

In typical St Peter's weather - cold with a blustery wind lashing across the pitch - the conditions were not conducive to a stylish game.

Sylvans were without their island captain, Matt Warren, who is out for a month with knee ligament problems that he picked up midweek against St Martin's, and consequently they struggled to deal with Scott Bradford and Coulter in the midfield as Bels ran the show.

The visitors took an inevitable lead after 26 minutes, when McGrath scored an absolute cracker.

The livewire striker cut in from the right flank and danced past a couple of Sylvans defenders to slot the ball low past keeper Paul de Garis and into the corner.

With injuries to Rhys Gower and Adrian Gidney and after failing to secure the services of former island keeper Ian Drillot, Bels have been forced to call up 41-year-old Andy Priaulx to stand between the posts.

After pulling off a good save at a corner on the half-an-hour mark, a minute later he almost gave Sylvans a goal when the ball slipped through his hands from a cross.

He did well to save the follow-up shot.

That seemed to stir Bels into action as they had a golden chance to go two ahead when an outstretched de Garis pulled off a top save to deny McGrath.

While still on the ground, the keeper managed to block Joby Bourgaize's effort and then positioned himself to save Coulter's strike from outside the area.

Closing in on half-time, the home side had another chance to level things when Danny Watts got onto the end of a through ball and with Priaulx hanging back, his shot skimmed off the bar and over.

After the break, McGrath almost had a carbon copy of his goal but this time his left-footed shot went wide.

Time and time again, Sylvans were guilty of not holding on to the ball. With 15 minutes to go, they brought on attacker Danny Felbabel, whom they signed recently from Bels, but with no supply, he could not put his mark on the match.

Then two decisions by the officials in as many minutes effectively killed the match for Sylvans.

First up, linesman Colin Gontier flagged for a penalty when Clive Bateman clipped Paul Ramsden from behind on the edge of the box. Referee Brent Blondel pointed to the spot despite Sylvans' objections that the foul was committed outside the area. McGrath put away the penalty.

Then a minute later, Sylvans' Ben Duff was shown a red card after Blondel had seen him kick out at Ben Coulter during a mini ruckus after the young midfielder had gone in with a reckless tackle.

From the sidelines, it was not too clear what had gone on, but the decision did not affect the proceedings too much as shortly afterwards the final whistle was blown.

'We didn't create enough chances,' said Sylvans boss Martyn de Garis.

'You couldn't fault the effort and credit to the lads out there. There were a few changes in the team and they were playing against the island champions.

'Hopefully we'll bounce back against Rovers next week.'