'Juniors' draw level with Unwantables at the top

Investec Colombians 4, Cenkos Yobbos 2

INVESTEC Colombians have drawn level with Coreix Unwantables at the top of the first division following their defeat of Cenkos Yobbos at Foote's Lane last weekend. Although Unwantables have a game in hand, Luke Jager, the captain of Colombians 'Juniors' as they are known, is delighted to see his team at joint top on 16 points with their rivals at the halfway stage.

The side were formed when the mighty Colombians team that dominated local hockey for the last few years split into two, creating the 'Juniors' and Vets.

'I'm really happy and as I said at the start of the season, we just wanted to have some fun,' he said.

'We never planned to be in this position but we're really happy to be here.

'Now we're here we want to go for the title and we're going to try our hardest to go for it. It would be silly not to.'

Although it did not all go Colombians' way in their match with Yobbos as their opponents got the opening goal through their star player, Andy Whalley following a well worked move.

Whalley had to pull out all the stops to make up for the absence of Steve Ward, Andy Biggins, Wayne Moore and Tim Wyatt.

Despite his efforts, the yellows subsequently equalised through Dave Chapman.

The qualified helicopter pilot was on the end of a hard ball into the D.

His deft touch hit Andy Good's stick but the Yobbos keeper could do nothing as the ball rolled over the line by an inch.

However, Yobbos regained the lead to go into half time 2-1 after Tony Veillard had scored at a short corner.

But in the second half, Colombians turned on the class.

Their midfield of Guernsey players Tristan Cairns, Tim Creasey and island captain Damian Wallen started to boss things.

They were soon awarded a penalty flick when a Cairns shot was stopped going into the goal when it hit Yobbos' Mike Still on the foot.

But a fantastic diving save by Good from Wallen's low flick into the corner kept Yobbos ahead.

Yet it did not stay that way for long as the 'Juniors' soon levelled things through Cairns.

Jez Stubbs then put them ahead with a tap in at the far post and Cairns got his second and Colombians' fourth with another tap-in.

Yobbos are now in third place and six points behind the leaders.

Next weekend is a big one as Yobbos face Unwantables on Saturday.

Good believes there is still a lot to play for in the league.

'It's all really open - it's the closest it's ever been,' he said.

'We're not out of it.'