Crick's sucker punch knocks out brave Northerners

Jersey Scottish 3, North 2

NORTH were close but not close enough to being crowned the best team in the Channel Islands. In glorious sunshine at Springfield, the Guernsey champions were reeling in the first 10 minutes of the Centenary Upton when they found themselves 2-0 down.

But goals from Stuart Polson, with a penalty, and AJ Saunders - a second-half effort - made it two-all before Scottish's Ross Crick sucker-punched them a minute later with the decisive strike.

'I think we had as much of the game as they did but we didn't put our chances away,' said North's captain Darren Martin.

'In the first 10 minutes we were two down and we were on the back foot already.

'It's been a great season when you take away what we've done, but it always hurts when you lose the last game of the season.

'Hopefully, we'll put it right next year. We've got to win the league and have another crack it.'

North had the worst possible start to the match when they found themselves a goal down in the opening minute.

From Scottish's kick-off, North's Dave Rihoy was booked for a reckless tackle on winger Ali Santos out on the left flank.

Jersey midfielder Dave Brodie whipped the resulting free kick into the box and it defied everyone to bounce in off the far post.

North, still not having woken up from that early shock, were then reeling a few minutes later when Ryan Lumsden had a simple tap-in from a corner to put the visitors 2-0 down and with a mountain to climb.

Their defence was all over the place as demonstrated when Ollie McKenzie brought down Scottish's tricky 16-year-old winger Jack Boyle on the edge of the box.

It looked like a penalty but 27-year-old national league referee Anthony Taylor, who was impressive all game, gave a free kick just outside the area instead of pointing to the spot.

Luckily for the Guernsey team, the kick came to nothing.

Now stirring into life, North started to threaten Scottish's goal.

AJ Saunders, playing up front without his fellow towering striker, Simon Tostevin, who was out with a twisted knee, proceeded to cause Scottish's defences problems.

In the 18th minute, he was pushed over going up for a high ball in the area by the home side's centre back, Craig Ferey, and Taylor had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot.

Stuart Polson coolly stepped up and duly converted it.

A couple of minutes later, Saunders had a golden opportunity with a cross into the six-yard box but he could not quite reach with his diving header.

The 6ft 4in. forward went on to have another few chances as North were now pulling the strings, with Gavin Le Page bossing the show in the midfield.

Saunders was denied five minutes from half-time when Scottish keeper Gareth Bayley did very well to keep out his close-range shot.

Saunders's header at the resulting corner then went agonisingly wide.

Despite North having had the better of the half, Scottish should have gone 3-1 up a couple of minutes before the break when their island striker, Crick, was picked out in space in the area, but his header went wide.

The Jersey side had the first chance of the second half after Le Page uprooted Boyle outside the area and Brodie was a whisker away with the free kick.

But it was North who were next celebrating a goal after some quality intricate play.

Alex Le Prevost picked out Rihoy with a great pass and he in turn found Saunders at the top of the area. He took his time in placing his shot past Bayley to level things.

While still wrapped up in the euphoria of finally equalising, North made the criminal mistake of letting Scottish score again one minute later, when Crick slotted the ball home from the edge of the area.

For the last 25 minutes, North gave it all they had but it was just not enough.

The largest applause of the day was reserved for when veteran North centre back Stuart Polson was substituted towards the end.

It could be the last game for the island star in North's colours as he will decide in June as to whether he will retire from the game.