WATCH: St Martin's defend Priaulx title for first time in 50 years
It took exactly half a century, but St Martin’s, 5-1 winners over Sylvans on Saturday, have finally got there in the end – defended a Priaulx League title.
After going a goal down at centenary club Sylvans at St Peter’s, they steamrollered the Westerners after the break, fully capitalising on the home side losing defender Oscar Leadbeater to a red card.
Having soaked his title-winning squad in champagne, Saints coach Leon Meakin spoke of his pride in securing the back-to-back championship he had yearned for and with a team only getting better.
‘We had a few decisions go against us in the first half but second half we were excellent and full value for the win,’ he said.
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‘I think we are playing better and certainly going forward we are scoring more goals.'
‘They are maturing as a team and it is really exciting to watch. To retain it is more difficult…we hadn’t retained it since the 60s or 70s and we have won it with a lot to spare – delighted.’
Skipper Chris Le Noury, who scored once and had a big hand – actually head – in another, said that as soon as they were level he thought they had the momentum to go onto win.
‘It is good that we are bringing some youth players through and players like Dom [Heaume] have been amazing again and Ollie Smith has been fantastic.’
In the day’s two other FNB Priaulx League games Northerners youngsters Archie Drillot and Pierre Marquis both grabbed braces in a 5-0 win over Vale Rec and Rovers won 7-1 at bottom-of-the-table Rangers.
Match report in Monday's Guernsey Press.
