Winch's debut goal

AN UNDER PAR St Martin's overcame an under strength Vale Rec in the first round of the Jeremie Cup last night. A total of eight goals went in at the Corbet Field as the lead changed hands three times. But it was hardly a classic.

'Not vintage Saints,' said Saints boss Colin Fallaize afterwards.

'I thought we were pretty poor. We didn't come out second half, but I thought we dominated the first half.'

The visitors went one up after 20 minutes when debutant winger Jason Winch sweetly struck one that Jody Bisson could only parry to Danny Felbabel who tucked it away.

Former Sussex junior Winch looks a good acquisition for the black-and-whites.

The game really came to life a couple of minutes before half time when Vale equalised against the run of play through striker Lawrence Abbott with a tap in. But Chris Mauger cancelled this out one minute later.

Then immediately afterwards, Saints' Charles Pinsard was lucky not to see a red card when he reacted by lifting his hands after a rash Shaun Robert tackle. Both players got a yellow from referee Peter Davison much to the chagrin of Rec boss Johnny Reid who let his thoughts known about Pinsard escaping an early shower.

Things really looked not to be going Rec's way when 10 minutes into the second half Jody Bisson had to go off with suspected broken ribs after clashing with Saints captain Kevin Graham. But the tide did turn for them when Mark Ramsden's 30-yard effort took a deflection to go in over Nathan Pattimore to make it 2-2.

The impressive Ramsden got another with 20 minutes to go when he put away a rebounded Simon Shaw shot. However Saints levelled things shortly afterwards when 16-year-old left back Marcus Piercey, who on his debut had replaced Bisson in goal and was doing a good job, spilled a free kick to allow in Felbabel.

The next goal was a stunner. Sarahs curled one from the edge of the area to find the back of the net off the post. Unfortunately for the centre back who had been calm and composed all night, it was at the wrong end and in his own goal. He was looking to clear the ball but it horribly wrong.

Winch got his first for the club in the last 10 minutes.