Champions suffer a second straight loss

A ridiculous notion, of course, but this 2-0 Martinez Cup loss on their home patch to Sylvans last night will surely hammer home the message that they will have a fight on their hands to retain the league this winter.

Two months and a bit after their sizzler in the sun to settle the destination of the 2020-21FA Cup, the two sides were back to decide (already) the second cup of the new campaign – faintly ridiculous when you consider that the season is just two weeks old.

Two actual cup finals in the space of four days seems a somewhat over-zealous way to start a new season, but that is the way it is with the Rawlinson having grown in stature, and with neither of these two teams having made that final they will have both been glad to get another 90 minutes under their belts before this weekend’s grand FNB Priaulx League openers.

Shame, though, that the early June sun had given way to a breezy and grey almost autumnal feel, and the football was similarly contrasting.

The big guys had gone too. For Sylvans there was no Kyle Smith or Jacob Fallaize.

In Saints colours, no Jamie Dodd or Ben Coulter and without that illustrious quartet the fare was never likely to be as classy.

The more knowledgeable will be quick to shout ‘Oi, Saints were without both Dodd and Coulter for that last-day FA Cup showdown’, but the pair were very much part of Saints’ glorious double-winning campaign which had featured some heavyweight clashes between the island’s two outstanding sides.

Fast-forward to last night, Sylvans might have had no Smith to lead the line, but it was encouraging to see Robbie Legg back in action, albeit via the bench.

For Saints, who continue to be strongly linked with a move for Manzur’s own forward pocket dynamo Marlon Jardim, they had fit-again Simon Geall in their dugout with Danny Hale, Chris Le Noury and Dom Heaume squeezed in alongside.

Across the board it was two very young sides in opposition and in the game’s first big chance Nick Batiste parried well to his left to deny youngster Harry Tough a well worked goal for the home side.

Ally Venosa missed a fine chance soon after and in a game of frenetic, high tempo action, the visitors initially struggled to get a strong footing in the game.

Slowly Sylvans got into something resembling a positive stride and it required a well-time strong tackle by Saints new, young centre-back Ben Solway to deny Harvey Lihou.

The pacy Solway had impressed from the outset and at the other end, so too did Tough, who had Batiste flying to his left to parry a chipped effort that was destined for the far corner.

At the other end having spotted Jason Martin off his line, Euan Melrose was not far away with a long range effort and the Island keeper was brought into his first serious action as Corey Brouard glanced a header destined for the bottom corner.

Saints began the second period with both Geall and Heaume introduced, followed, on the hour mark, by Legg trotting on for a return to Sylvans colours.

There was a momentary sorry tale of two Louis.

The Sylvans defender Louis Falla badly sliced the ball into the path of Saints skipper Louis Hunter but from 18 yards out he blazed his shot high in the direction of Motor Mall.

Then, out of the blue, a goal.

Saints half-cleared and Miles Pengelley volleyed it back into the far corner with 72 minutes gone.

A Pengelley goal is a rarity and yet he very nearly got a second as his powerful header on Legg’s corner was kept out by a great Martin save.

On 81min. Tomos Ap Sion fired in a fine second and Sylvans were home and dry.