Saints and Rovers bid to end Sylvans' domination

SYLVANS' domination of women's football in Guernsey could be coming to an end. After winning the league on the last three occasions it has been contested, the westerners now trail leaders St Martin's by seven points and George Jennings' Rovers side by three.

Saints inflicted their third defeat of the campaign with a deserved 3-0 victory at Blanche Pierre on Sunday afternoon.

Skipper Annie Knights (nee Machon) scored two second-half goals to add to Kirsty Davison's first-half effort.

But Saints were indebted to 16-year-old island hockey goalkeeper Hannah Coutu, making her debut in goal, who pulled off a superb tip-over save to deny Sylvans an equaliser.

Saints are enjoying a fine season and are unbeaten in the league after effectively amalgamating with Rangers' defunct side, recruiting about five former red-and-blacks.

'It's going really well and that helped us because we were always short of players,' said Knights.

She is an ex-island stalwart along with Elaine Ward and they are complemented by the likes of current Guernsey regulars Gemma Crouse, Elisha Gettings, Davison, Candice Simon, Michelle Page and new island call-up Dani Gervaise-Brazier.

'It's the strongest Saints have ever been,' said Knights.

She believed the win over the reigning champions was warranted.

'We battled and wanted it more and Sylvans were not themselves at all and I don't know why,' she said.

'They had their normal team out, including Rochelle Vaudin, who is a fantastic player.'

Davison opened the scoring after a few triangles from Saints players and she got on the end of a teasing cross to sidefoot home from just outside the six-yard box.

'Hannah Coutu had a cracking save to prevent Kate Le Gallez equalising,' said Knights.

In the second half, Knights scored with a left-foot shot from a corner before a wind-assisted right-foot shot from 25 yards compounded the misery for the Reds.

'We are not worried about Sylvans, but Rovers because they are our bogey side. If we beat Sylvans on Sunday, that will give us some breathing space.'

But Saints are keeping their feet firmly on the ground and are not getting over-excited about winning the league yet.

'We are not confident until we have got it in the bag and I have that cup in my hands. I'm sceptical,' admitted Knights.

He said former island captain Knights had been influential for the BPL outfit and the women who came into the club had mixed in well.

'Myself and Martyn are hopeful they can get their just deserts for a good season. It's probably the best bunch of women we have trained and their enthusiasm is brilliant,' said Coutu.

'It's enjoyable doing it and hopefully we can get some more women coming through. Hopefully they can get more people to watch the football and it's a shame there are not that many watching them as on Sunday all the time.'

Sylvans coach Jo Ferbrache is refusing to throw in the towel yet despite the latest defeat.

'We did not play as well as we can do - it was a game of two halves and they had one break and scored. The wind picked up second half and it was pretty awful and it spoilt the game and we could not get out of their half because of the wind,' she said.

'It depends what happens on Sunday and they have to play Rovers,' she added on their chances of making it a hat-trick of titles.

Guernsey Rovers coach George Jennings believes the club's youth policy is paying dividends.

'We have done well this year because we have progressed some young girls through the youth policy. We also have a few new signings and have been gradually building a side over the past three or four seasons,' he said.

'We are now in a strong position to challenge for the league.'

Rovers beat Sylvans 1-0 to win the Charity Shield so they already have silverware for their trophy cabinet.

'That was the first time they had lost for six years,' said Jennings.

His team have been boosted by the arrival of Portuguese forward Hilda Marrero, who has scored seven goals in the last four games and has proved a useful acquisition.

'Our biggest problem has been goalkeeper,' admitted Jennings.

Gemma Duport broke her finger and has been out and reserve goalie Jemma Wadley broke her nose in an accidental collision against Saints in a 2-2 draw.

'Unfortunately there are almost two leagues in one. It's exactly the same as the Priaulx and it's a shame Rangers did fold.'

'A few years ago we were in the bottom half. The girls are confident and we have proved we are capable of beating Saints, but they are a good side. What is healthy is there are good sides at the top, whereas in the past Sylvans dominated. All three sides could win it and we are quietly confident we can do it,' he said.

He insists Saints are in a very fortuitous position by having many of the former Rangers players.

Sylvans face St Martin's again at St Peter's on Sunday at 10.30am, with Belgraves travelling to the Corbet Field to play Vale Rec in the afternoon hoping to inflict a 10th consecutive defeat on the hosts.