Treble success for Saints as they finish season with Wheway triumph

Just 10 days after a jaded squad lost to St Peter in the Jeremie Cup semi-final, the Priaulx League and CI club champions got their revenge with a 2-1 victory at Springfield to become only the 21st Sarnian winners in the 96 editions of the Wheway Trophy, consigning their opposition to the runners-up spot for the fourth time in five years.

‘It has been a long time since anyone from Guernsey won it – over 10 years – and we have not had many finalists in that time either,’ said a delighted coach Leon Meakin.

‘It is difficult going over there and playing in front of about five of our own fans and the fact that it was a mid-week game, it felt like the odds were against us, so it was very special to win it, it was a lovely feeling and the boys were ecstatic.

‘We would have been disappointed if we had not won anything else after the Upton, which to me is the pinnacle of the season and should be the last game.

‘But the fact that we got knocked out of the FA Cup and Jeremie in the week after it was a blow, so to win our last game and pick up a trophy did feel like a celebration of a really good season and all the hard work everyone has put into it.’

The visitors took the lead on 13min. through a magnificent Dom Heaume header from Jake Lowe’s corner.

St Peter fought back and equalised just after the hour-mark through substitute Scott Welsh, who knocked in the rebound after Jason Martin had saved Toby Ritzema’s cross-shot.

A combination of the St Martin’s ‘H’ force conjured the decisive goal on 78min.

Danny Hale’s free-kick from the right was nodded down by Heaume at the far post and Louis Hunter hooked the ball home for the winner.

‘We started off really well, very fast, got the goal and, similar to the Upton, we then sat back a bit,’ Meakin said.

‘There were a fair few chances for both sides, but as we seem to have a habit of doing, once we conceded, we pushed on again.’

The Saints coach added that having 10 days between the Jeremie semi-final and Wheway final proved advantageous for his side.

‘We needed that break and, funny as it may sound, we almost seemed a bit rusty to start with,’ said Meakin.

‘We were talking afterwards and said that because we only had three weeks off last summer, it has felt like a two-year season so we are going to enjoy this for a few days then everybody is going to have a well-earned rest.’

TEAMS

St Peter: Roche, Soares, Luce, Risby, Blampied, Logue, McCafferty, Poole, Ritzema, Le Cornu, Scott. Sub: Welsh.

St Martin’s: Martin, Mason, Jacques Le Gallez, Geall, Solway, Le Noury, Le Lacheur, Hunter, Heaume, Lowe, Smith. Subs: Roussel, Du Port, Hale, Joe Le Gallez.