Sylvans’ young side responding
MANZUR’S long-awaited return to first-team action turned into something of a disaster for the orange shirts in the Saturday tea-time clash in the Stranger Cup at the KGV.
But take nothing away from the youthful Sylvans outfit.
As the club has put faith in young players and coach Martyn de Garis‘s organisational qualities, the first team has responded and their ability to defend neatly and attack decisively was far too good for a one-dimensional Manzur.
Manzur seemed to spend most of the first 25 minutes slicking the ball around their back four before, unable to find a way through Sylvans’ well-organised defensive structure, punting it long, where it was mopped up by Nick Trebert, captain Harry Gallienne and the impressive Ryan Baker, working hard in central midfield.
Sylvans had not threatened up to then but Joe Collenette’s clinical shot on the turn would have beaten better goalkeepers than Manzur stand-in Marc Rihoy.
Ten minutes later Rihoy was again at the centre of the action as he let Brandon Le Poidevin’s free kick squirm through his body and into the net.
The two-goal cushion was comfortable for Sylvans and they were never really seriously threatened by all Manzur’s efforts, and Collenette’s deflected shot killed the game off in the last five minutes. Sylvans return to Stranger Cup action this Saturday against St Martin’s in the 5pm game under lights at the KGV.
As for Mark Romeril’s Manzur side, they hope to be stronger when they take on Rovers in the Stranger in this evening’s 8pm kick-off.
It is a game both sides need to win, but Rovers coach Jez Robin will be without his his son, Max, who dislocated his good knee early on in the win over Bels.
The midfielder had returned to the side only the previous week after many months out following knee surgery. The youngster hopes this new injury is not so severe but will be out, at the minimum, for several weeks.
Blair Howitt, Chezney Payne and Josh Addison return tonight after missing the Bels game and Sam Hall is hopeful of playing also after resting his problematic groin for a couple of games.
