Canha makes the difference
ROVERS are champions again, a brilliantly taken 23rd-minute strike from their Madeiran recruit Carlos Canha earning them a clinching 1-0 triumph over big rivals St Martin’s on Saturday, writes Rob Batiste.
A 250-plus crowd was drawn to Port Soif for the crunch encounter which Saints knew they had to win, but were trailing from the 23rd minute and were always second best.
Saints coach Leon Meakin sportingly admitted as much: ‘The best team on the day won, I have got no argument with that.
‘I thought the first goal was always going to be crucial and they got it. I thought they were excellent and we weren’t at the races, which was disappointing in such a big game.
‘I hope we will learn from this and come again next season.’
After lifting the trophy skipper Tom Strawbridge paid tribute to the match-winner Canha.
‘That’s probably the best finish I’ve ever seen from a corner or free-kick or whatever it was,’ he said.
‘It was some finish and it just shows the class of the man. He’s an incredible footballer.’
Rovers coach Jez Robin said that his side have improved on last season when they snatched the title in the dying seconds and highlighted their defensive excellence.
‘We have played 24 games and only conceded 21 goals. That’s a pretty good show.’
Full report in Monday's Guernsey Press.
