Saints’ Tough new curve ball
ST MARTIN’S lost the FNB Priaulx League leadership for a couple of hours on Saturday before bouncing back to grab it again in a remarkable 3-2 home win against North.
Two down inside 10 minutes and very nearly three in 15, Leon Meakin’s team of battlers recovered superbly to win a fantastic game with a late winner from Harry Tough, who at the start of August was still 15 and ineligible for senior action.
But the youngster entered the fray with 13 minutes left and hit the winner with his first involvement.
‘Young Harry has thrown in another curve ball in there with the goal,’ said Meakin in reference to his positive selection headaches.
‘We’ve been waiting to get him on at the right time and he’s changed the game.’
Meakin acknowledged the entertainment value of the first 45 minutes.
‘It could have been 4-4,’ he said from the centre of Blanche Pierre Lane, having done the rounds of shaking hands with players and officials.
‘Bringing on young Harry changed the game in the end.
‘I think we were the better side and deserved to win apart from the first 10 minutes when we were abysmal.
‘It was a cracking game. After those first 10 minutes we got into our stride and those old heads in the side guided us through.
‘Ben Coulter was phenomenal. He is getting better week on week, finally finding some fitness and being able to get through 90 minutes and not having to take him off after an hour. He’s been different class for us so far,’ said his coach.
There were also weekend wins for Rovers and Manzur, while Vale Rec and Sylvans battled out a 2-2 draw.
Match reports in Monday's Guernsey Press.
