Colombians fall victim

INVESTEC Colombians have failed again in the hockey Upton. The heavyweights of the local game have won the league title for the last five seasons.

But every year since winning the Channel Islands title in 2003, they have failed to take the biggest prize in Channel Islands club hockey.

In 2004, they lost to JHC Gobis and each year since they have been defeated by OV Victims.

And it was the same story on Saturday as the Jersey champions took a 4-2 victory at Les Quennevais to make it a hat-trick of Upton wins.

'It was quite a close game,' said Colombians goalkeeper and captain Kees Jager.

'It could have gone either way. I'm a bit gutted about the result but we played very well.'

The home side took an early lead through Mike James from a tight angle. Chris Gill levelled things for Colombians with a top-of-the-D strike before Matt Smith put the Caesareans ahead again.

Colombians striker TJ Ozanne made it two-all shortly before half-time.

In the second half Victims' Mark Dicker converted his team's pressure when he kept his head in a one-on-one with Jager.

With time ticking down, the visitors went all out to get the equaliser.

This exposed the Colombians at the back and their opponents took advantage of that when Tom Miller scored with the last move of the match.

'The team were excellent today,' said Victims captain Garret O'Brien afterwards.

'It was an incredibly hard-fought game on a very hot day and there was never much between the sides.

'Colombians came so close to equalising at the end they will feel a little unlucky but we are delighted with this win which completes a hat-trick of Uptons for the club.'