Bels' deadly duo make St Martin's pay dearly

St Martin's 2, Bels 3

ONLY one statistic matters in football. It is of little consequence if you have more possession, the territorial advantage or create more chances than your opponents if they score more than you.

Obviously really, isn't it?

St Martin's should have been out of sight of the champions with 20 minutes remaining at Blanche Pierre Lane on Saturday, but they failed to capitalise on some golden opportunities and paid the ultimate price when Bels' deadly duo of Marc McGrath and Neil Clegg struck twice in the space of two minutes to put their side 3-1 ahead.

As a delighted Micky Ogier said afterwards, 'we have two of the best strikers in the island', and they certainly proved their worth.

Kevin Graham's spectacular overhead kick late on proved only a consolation but it created a dramatic finale in what was a highly entertaining clash.

Both sides deserve credit for that as the match lived up to its second v. third billing in which they both went out looking for victory rather than in fear of defeat.

Saints arguably started the brighter and not just because of their luminous yellow kit. Rhys Gower, who did well on his return from injury, was called into action early on by Rob Pickford.

But it was the visitors who took the lead on 18min. when the predatory Clegg lashed home a left foot shot after Alex Hockey and Graham both went to clear Scott Bradford's hooked cross from the right.

It was a harsh blow for Saints but they remained in arrears for only a couple of minutes.

Their skipper, Graham, made a nuisance of himself challenging with Gower for Chris Mauger's free kick delivered onto the penalty spot and the ball fell towards goal, where Chris Le Noury helped it over the line.

Moments later the hosts might have gone ahead had Chris King not pulled off an excellent challenge on Nick Edmunds in the box after Mauger had whipped in another wicked cross.

As the first half neared a close, there was a major worry for the champions when captain Leighton Chainey stayed down with an ankle problem following an innocuous-looking challenge and play continued for several minutes while he was receiving attention off the pitch.

During that time both sides came close to taking the lead as Graham turned Brent Marquand's cross onto his own bar while Gower pulled off an outstanding save when one-on-one with Edmunds, but the score remained level at half-time.

For 25 minutes after the break, Saints did everything but score.

Early on, King was on hand to make a goal-line clearance from Ross Yeates after Pickford had broken clear from the halfway line and from the resulting corner, Graham's thumping header flew agonisingly wide.

Mauger then went close on two occasions - the first drew a save from Gower and the second was a beautifully executed first-time volley as he was back-pedaling, which sailed just inches over.

Midway through the period, the hosts produced the move of the match as they broke at pace with Mauger's cross-field ball finding Edmunds, who in turn crossed immediately for Pickford but the unmarked striker could not keep his header down.

Pickford was closer with his next effort, but this time Charlie Pinsard cleared off the line.

As these chances kept slipping by, it was almost inevitable that it would be Bels who broke the deadlock and it was the in-form McGrath who grabbed the goal with quarter of an hour remaining.

Both he and Clegg were perhaps guilty of trying to over-elaborate with their backs to goal in the box during the build-up, but when the ball fell to McGrath when he was facing the right way, he coolly lifted the ball over the advancing Hockey and into the net.

Two minutes later, he turned provider as he received a quick free kick on the right flank and curled a low cross into the danger area, where Clegg nonchalantly back-heeled the ball into the far corner.

With Saints now having to chase the game, Graham was pushed up top.

It almost cost them another goal but Hockey did well to save with his legs from substitute Paul Ramsden.

The Saints captain did pull one back with seven minutes remaining as he managed to reach behind him to fetch a cross from the right, knock the ball up and then produce the perfect overhead volley.

Unfortunately for the home support, the one celebration remaining after that belonged to Bels at the final whistle.

'It was a big three points,' said Ogier.

'We knew we needed to win. Even though we have got games in hand, this was a big result for us.

'We have worked really hard lately and credit to the boys - they are getting out of it what they are putting in.'

His opposite number, Colin Fallaize, was, in his own words, 'a little bit disappointed'.

'If you do not put your chances away, you do not win games,' he said.

'The play was generally balanced between the sides, but we had three or four quality chances that would have had an effect on the game if we had found the net.'

The result put Bels ahead of Saints into second, one point behind leaders North.

n SYLVANS also moved above St Martin's in the Priaulx League table with a convincing 4-0 win over Rovers at St Peter's.

Danny Watts put the westerners ahead right on the stroke of half-time.

After the break there were two goals for Danny Felbabel and a penalty for Tom Duff.

Keith Quertier was sent off for the visitors.

At St Andrew's, a first-half Marc Rihoy strike was enough to give Vale Rec victory over Rangers.